CEO Growth Talks

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, host Pete Hayes sits down with Ben Bertram, Owner of Fiberglass Solutions, to explore his bold leap into business ownership—without a safety net. Ben shares how he and his wife acquired a gritty, industrial business and scaled it rapidly through operational excellence, customer responsiveness, and eventually, strategic marketing support from Chief Outsiders. Fr...

Mike Clarke, CEO of Hanto + Clarke General Contractors, LLC, turned a family startup into a fast-growing enterprise by combining EOS discipline with data-driven, fractional marketing expertise. Join us for our next CEO Growth Talks episode where Mike joins host Pete Hayes to unpack the strategy behind his company's explosive scaling journey.

In this crucial episode of CEO Growth Talks, host Pete Hayes sits down with Loretta Stagnitto, founder of Stagnitto Leadership Associates, to discuss the critical importance of intentionally developing your organization's next layer of leaders. They explore why the "how" of leadership—not just the "what"—is the key skill gap and how a targeted coaching methodology can transform your management tea...

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, we sit down with Nate Olds, CEO of StormTrap LLC, a national leader in controlling stormwater runoff. Nate shares the strategic journey of scaling his business, how a consultative sales model ensures engineering excellence, and the pivotal role of leveraging fractional executive expertise to unlock a new, high-growth market segment. For CEOs looking to scale a...

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, host Pete Hayes speaks with Ed Trevis, President, CEO, and Co-founder of Corvalent Corporation. Ed shares the remarkable 32-year journey of his company from its Silicon Valley roots to becoming a key player in Texas’ growing tech and manufacturing ecosystem. Driven by a culture of consistency, Ed built Corvalent to deliver rugged, industrial-grade computing sys...

Join us for our next episode of CEO Growth Talks, where host Pete Hayes talks with Warb Lee, Founder and CEO of Alen Corp, the U.S.-based leader in intelligent air purification. Warb shares how a 20-year commitment to health, innovation, and operational excellence positioned Alen to meet the challenges of COVID-era demand — from outfitting over 100,000 classrooms to mastering end-to-end supply cha...

Join host Pete Hayes as he interviews Scott Wozniak, CEO of Swoz Consulting, on the secrets to building legendary customer loyalty. Scott shares the proven strategies behind Chick-fil-A’s devoted fan base and how B2B companies can apply the same principles to turn customers into passionate advocates. Learn how to create a customer experience so remarkable that it sets you apart from the competitio...

Join us on our next CEO Growth Talks with our guest David Bull, CEO of Ark Financial, for a powerful discussion designed for CEOs and entrepreneurs navigating today's complex business landscape. Discover why many leaders remain trapped in "escaping the past" rather than building toward purpose, and learn the critical three-step framework for moving from survival-mode to purpose-driven leadership....

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, Pete Hayes interviews Phillip Edwards, CEO of MultiTracks.com, to discuss his journey from worship leader to tech entrepreneur. Phillip reveals how he transformed worship services with professional-quality multitracks, tackled licensing challenges, and expanded globally. He highlights the importance of a customer-centric approach, innovation, and building a dyn...

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, host Pete Hayes sits down with Art Saxby, CEO of Chief Outsiders, to discuss the company’s journey since the 2009 recession. Art reflects on how Chief Outsiders evolved from providing fractional CMOs to adapting to the dynamic needs of mid-sized businesses. He introduces “Team Outsiders,” a new service designed to provide comprehensive support, and “GrowthGears...

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, Pete Hayes speaks with Professor Leigh McAlister about the "Growth Gears" framework from their collaborative research. Professor Leigh reveals how marketing proficiency is integral to company growth, offering insights on strategy, customer understanding, and the role of marketing authority in driving success. Key Takeaways: The insights from Growth Gears offers...

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, h ost Pete Hayes interviews Nate Agentis, CEO of Agentis Plumbing and founder of Plumbing CEO. Nate shares his journey of scaling a family business founded by his grandfather, highlighting strategic growth through technology, data, and AI. He also discusses his coaching platform aimed at empowering service plumbers and offers insights on resilient leadership du...

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, host Pete Hayes interviews Tom Cassara, CEO of Agilis. Tom discusses Agilis' rise in financial consulting, focusing on risk management and client-centric solutions for organizations managing over $10M in assets. He highlights the firm's evolution through a buyout, fostering team creativity and collaboration to drive growth, and his leadership approach prioritiz...

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, Pete Hayes interviews Michael Waxman-Lenz, CEO of the American Technion Society, who reflects on his shift from corporate to nonprofit leadership. He stresses the need to modernize philanthropic approaches and shares valuable insights on managing crises, adapting to generational shifts, and integrating corporate metrics with mission-focused, trust-building prac...

In the latest episode of CEO Growth Talks, Pete Hayes interviews Kyle Buckett, CSDO and Co-Founder of Stealth Energy Startup, Co-Founder of Culture Force, and author of the book “Leadership is Overrated.” Kyle challenges traditional leadership norms, emphasizing the value of self-led teams over individual leadership. Drawing from his Navy SEAL and business experience, he advocates for team empower...

In the latest CEO Growth Talks episode, Pete Hayes interviews Cameron Brown, Co-Owner of Einstein Moving Company. Cameron talks about their journey in scaling Einstein Moving Co., highlighting key lessons learned along the way. He discusses starting in different industries and overcoming growth challenges and stresses the importance of clear communication, financial savvy, and constant innovation...

In the latest episode of CEO Growth Talks, host Pete Hayes is joined by Ellen Wood, the CEO, founder, and president of VCFO, who shares insights into her journey and the evolution of her company. Ellen, who pioneered the concept of virtual CFOs nearly 28 years ago, reflects on how VCFO has grown and adapted over the years - from the initial skepticism she faced with the fractional model and how he...