CEOs Unscripted

What does it really take to scale from $60M to $500M without turning your company into a bureaucracy? In this candid conversation, Troy Place (CEO, Place Services Inc.) and host Jane Gentry unpack the unsexy fundamentals behind year-over-year $100M growth: fast decision-making, quality that the customer defines, ruthless focus on profitability, hiring well, and operationalizing culture you can fee...

Are you a mid-market CEO struggling with cash flow, talent retention, or decision-making speed? Fortune 100 veteran turned growth company CEO Stacey Tank reveals the exact strategies that transformed her leadership from managing billion-dollar enterprises at GE, Home Depot, and Heineken to scaling a high-growth beauty brand.  KEY TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - From Fortune 100 to Growth CEO 05:30 - Why "Cash...

In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane sits down with Rich Scanlon, Chairman of Sendible and a former NFL linebacker turned successful SaaS CEO. Rich shares his extraordinary journey from the football field to the boardroom, revealing how lessons in discipline, accountability, and high-stakes decision-making shaped his leadership style. Tune in as Rich opens up about: Transitioning from pro...

What happens when a 39-year-old takes over a family business and inherits employees who are decades older? In this powerful episode of CEOs Unscripted, Jane Gentry sits down with Jim Nooney, who transformed Nooney Controls through the revolutionary power of gratitude and authentic leadership. Jim shares his raw journey from feeling "unsuited" to run his father's business to building a culture wher...

What happens when a supply chain expert who built and sold a successful consulting firm realizes the real problem isn't broken processes—it's broken workplaces? In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Robert Martichenko, founder of Trail Path Workplace Solutions and former CEO of Lean Core Supply Chain, for an eye-opening conversation about the shift from managing proce...

What happens when a bartender-turned-restaurant-owner discovers a passion for experiential marketing and becomes the CEO of one of the top exhibit houses in the country? You get Michael McMahon. In this episode, Michael opens up to host, Jane Gentry, about his winding path to leadership, how he cultivated his leadership voice over decades, and what it really means to “get out of the way” as a CEO....

How do you run a thriving business with your siblings—without losing your sanity or your bottom line? In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, Mark McKenzie, CEO of DocQmax, shares the gritty, inspiring story behind his family’s 50-year journey in the printing industry. From navigating family dynamics and hard conversations to staying innovative through digital disruption, Mark brings honest insight on...

In this episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Mike Plaia, CEO of PharmaPoint, for an unscripted masterclass on building culture, embracing servant leadership, and staying bold in the face of adversity.   (05:34)  The GE program that fast-tracked Mike’s business instincts  (07:25)  Why Mike tells young professionals to start with structured training  (10:26) "Don't be Snapple"...

What happens when a 16-year-old managing adults becomes a CEO of a niche manufacturing company? In this candid and inspiring episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with John Costello, CEO of Cherry’s Industrial Equipment, for a real conversation about leadership, legacy, and the power of transparency. From navigating a tense business partnership to building a company culture rooted...

In this dynamic episode of CEOs Unscripted, host Jane Gentry sits down with Patrick "Paddy" Gough — retired Marine Corps officer, former aerospace CEO, and founder of Poseidon Consulting — for a candid and insightful conversation on what true leadership looks like. Together, they explore Paddy’s "Seven Cs" of leadership: competence, candor, courage, commitment, consistency, compassion, and communi...

When your company can’t grow past you, it’s time to grow yourself. From starting a business by accident to scaling multiple companies—and learning some hard lessons along the way—Josh McAfee brings an honest and insightful lens to what it really takes to lead and grow. In this episode, Josh joins Jane Gentry to talk about the mindset shift that transformed him from a high-performing individual con...

Executing with focus, leading through change, and building unstoppable teams with intention and clarity. What happens when a Navy vet, former sales rep, and self-described “imposter syndrome CEO” becomes one of the most effective growth leaders in private equity? You get Bill Canady—Chairman of OTC Industrial Technologies, CEO of Arrowhead Engineered Products, and author of The 80/20 CEO. In this...

#001: From Crisis to Comeback: Leadership Lessons from the Fast-Food Industry with Doug Augustine Turning setbacks into success, the power of vulnerability in leadership, and building a thriving company culture. Imagine stepping into a struggling business at just 26 years old, facing financial turmoil, and being told by corporate leaders that you should walk away. That was the reality for Doug Aug...