Operations Excellence

In this episode of Operations Excellence , Mark O’Donnell is joined by Zachary Premo, founder of The LED Sign Guys and a young entrepreneur building momentum in the digital signage space. Mark and Zach talk about what it really takes to move from having big ideas to actually executing them. Zach shares how one-on-one coaching has helped him organize his thoughts, prioritize next steps, and build m...

In Episode 13 of Operations Excellence , Mark O’Donnell welcomes back Joann Yarrow of Distinctive Voices for a conversation that blends leadership, communication, and performing arts into one practical playbook for showing up with impact. Together, they unpack why great communication isn’t just about speaking clearly, it’s about active listening , asking better questions, and building trust in the...

It’s the one-year anniversary of the Operations Excellence Podcast, and Mark O’Donnell marks the milestone with a special panel episode bringing back past guests for a real-world conversation on one big question: Are local small and midsize businesses ready for the growth opportunities headed toward Upstate New York? Joined by Matt Masur (Growth Mode Technologies / Click Stream Studios), Mark Robe...

In Episode 11 of the Operations Excellence Podcast, Mark O’Donnell sits down with Adam Feck — President of Forward 46 and Co-Founder of the Strategic Executive Alliance — for a powerful conversation about what it really means for a business to be “ready” for growth. Adam shares his remarkable journey—from orthopedic trauma surgery sales to fire service leadership to building organizations that sup...

In this milestone 10th episode of Operations Excellence , host Mark O’Donnell welcomes two inspiring leaders who embody what it means to build organizations with purpose — one through people, the other through preparedness. First, Davine Bey , Founder & Managing Partner of DKON Consulting Group , shares his journey from Harlem to Syracuse and how decades in talent acquisition shaped his philos...

In Episode 9 of Operations Excellence , host Mark O’Donnell welcomes two guests in back-to-back conversations. Segment 1 — Dr. Marc Pietropaoli (Victory in Motion): A fellowship-trained sports medicine orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Pietropaoli breaks down his “knee repair, not knee replacement” philosophy and why most musculoskeletal patients don’t need surgery. He explains Victory in Motion’s holistic...

In this episode of Operations Excellence , host Mark O’Donnell sits down with Mark Roberts , co-founder and Executive Vice President of Staff Leasing, to talk about 36 years of helping companies streamline HR, payroll, benefits, and compliance. From starting with a single desk and a phone to building a Fortune 500–level benefits package for small and mid-sized businesses, Mark shares how Staff Lea...

In Episode 7 of Operations Excellence , host Mark O'Donnell welcomes two passionate guests who embody entrepreneurial grit and creative reinvention. First, meet Zach Premo, founder of Ads on the Go, whose journey from small-town dropout to digital billboard entrepreneur is anything but traditional. Zach shares how he rebuilt his business from the ground up after a painful split, why small business...

In this special two-part episode, host Mark O'Donnell welcomes back his first returning guest, Stephanie Zumbuhl of Abacus Grant Services, LLC. Stephanie shares how her business has rapidly scaled through the power of referrals, strategic partnerships, and a renewed focus on purpose-driven growth. From moving into new office space to building a dream team, Stephanie opens up about the growing pain...

In Episode 5 of Operations Excellence , host Mark O'Donnell welcomes two powerful voices in leadership and growth. 🚀 First up: Adam Roemer , Northern California Regional Manager at US Air Conditioning Distributors, shares his personal journey from crawling through hot attics to leading high-performing teams. Hear how his leadership style evolved through experience, mentorship, and customized coac...

Welcome to Episode 4 of Operations Excellence with host Mark O'Donnell! In this episode, Mark is joined by Stephanie Zumbuhl of Abacus Grant Services and Steve Thompson , founder of Integrity Cost Consulting . Together, they dive into the real-world challenges, lessons, and victories of running successful businesses. 🎯 In this episode, you’ll hear: 🔹 The importance of empathetic listening and wh...

In Episode 3 of Operations Excellence, host Mark O'Donnell is joined by guests Jennifer Jedik and Matt Masur for a deep dive into the real-world challenges and rewards of leadership development, organizational growth, and personal transformation. From the power of empathy and mentorship to the courage it takes to speak publicly and lead authentically, this episode unpacks the mindset shifts requir...

In this episode of Operations Excellence, Mark O'Donnell sits down with Joann Yarrow and Brad Beckman of Distinctive Voices, a company dedicated to narrative development, performance coaching, and storytelling for business and entertainment. Join us as we explore: 🎭 The art of storytelling in business and the performing arts 🎤 How effective communication builds stronger brands and teams 🧠 The i...

Operations Excellence, Mark O'Donnell joins Good News York (Matt Masur, Mike Brindisi) LIVE at the NYS Winter Fair with special guests John Sidorakis and Derek Brooks.