The People I Know

From Cadiz to the Boardroom: The Bob Smith Story How does growing up in a small Ohio town prepare someone for a lifetime of leadership? In this episode of  The People I Know , Larry Howard sits down with fellow Cadiz native Bob Smith to trace a remarkable journey from his childhood in Harrison County to a distinguished career in investment management, business leadership and service to the state o...

Welcome to the very first episode of  The People I Know . Before I start sharing the stories of the fascinating people I’ve met throughout my life and career, I thought it was only fair to begin with my own. I’m  Larry Howard , and over the years my journey has taken me from growing up in a small town in Ohio to a career spanning professional audio, theme parks, projection mapping, sports, enterta...

Eight sectional titles. Seven district titles. An historic OVAC championship. A state championship. 70 state qualifiers and 29 state placers. But those numbers only tell part of the story. This week on  The People I Know , I sit down with legendary Cadiz wrestling coach  John Stephenson  to talk about building a championship program, the unforgettable 1981 and 1987 teams, the young men he coached,...

Today on The People I Know, we’re going back home to the Ohio Valley for the story of Jeff Kendziorski. Jeff grew up in Hopedale, became one of the most accomplished athletes to come out of Cadiz High School, and earned a football scholarship to the University of South Carolina. But football is only part of his story. Jeff earned his degree in electrical engineering while playing Division I footba...

Today on The People I Know, we’re going back to Cadiz, Ohio, for a conversation about family, hard work, friendship, and the people who shape us along the way. My guest is Dr. Gary Barker, who grew up as one of five boys in the Barker family, in a small town where everybody seemed to know everybody — and where Gary learned early about responsibility, community, and the importance of relationships....

The People I Know is built around a simple idea: people change our lives. This guest, Molly Piveral, has spent her entire career proving exactly that. Molly has spent more than four decades connecting people, leading teams, building partnerships, and helping organizations become stronger from the inside out. Her journey began at Walt Disney World, where she spent nearly 20 years in entertainment a...

A doctor. A classical musician. A professional photographer. An inventor. A philanthropist. And the founder of one of the largest high-performance driving organizations in the world. Most people would be happy accomplishing one of those things. Dr. Wei-Shen Chin somehow found time to do them all.

"My guest today has spent his life chasing great sound. It started with a guitar in his hands as a young boy in Tampa, grew into playing in bands before most kids could drive, and eventually led him into leadership roles with some of the biggest names in professional audio, including Bose, PlayNetwork, and beyond. Along the way he's remained what he was from the very beginning—a musician...

What do Gladiator, Shrek 2, Gangs of New York, Eat Pray Love, Peter Gabriel, Robert Plant, and the Sydney Opera House all have in common? Today's guest. Rob Bozas has spent more than three decades quietly shaping the soundtrack of our lives. From growing up in apartheid South Africa and crossing paths with history, to helping manage the music of legendary artists, negotiating global licensing...

Design is everywhere. The products we buy. The brands we trust. The symbols we rally behind. But today’s guest didn’t just help shape products and brands — he helped reimagine the identity of an entire city. From decades in consumer product design and branding… to creating The People’s Flag of Cleveland… this is a conversation about creativity, storytelling, civic pride, and why the best ideas usu...

Long before she became an educator for nearly four decades, Jill Bracher was just a kid on Cherrywood Drive in Cadiz, Ohio — growing up in a family that taught her independence, hard work, and curiosity about the world. Come along and meet Jill, hear her stories and enjoy the time with us.

Some people build careers… Others build industries. For more than five decades, Bruce Howze has been quietly shaping the way millions of people experience sound—whether in a stadium, a theme park, or a concert field. From fiberglass enclosures to category-defining outdoor speaker systems… his work didn’t just evolve with the industry—it pushed it forward. So what does a lifetime of innovation soun...

Scott built a career most people spend a lifetime chasing, executive leadership, global impact, and shaping the future of professional audio. But this conversation isn’t only about business. It’s about what happens when success collides with an unimaginable loss of a child and how faith can carry you through that kind of tragedy.

He starts in a small town outside Pittsburgh, one made famous by  The Deer Hunter . Then he disappears into the world of Hollywood lights, Alaskan extremes, Orlando’s entertainment machine. Different worlds. Same drive. And just when it feels like the story’s getting bigger… He turns around and heads home. This is Paul Meena’s journey.