Driven to Lead

In this episode of Driven to Lead, our guest Christopher Inverso, CEO of Rainier Industries tells us a story about a distribution & logistics problem for the company's products that became so difficult to manage that his team had to think out-of-the-box to survive.  Their innovative approach not only solved the problem but simultaneously addressed other related issues that actually strengthene...

In this episode of Driven to Lead, our guest Erik Lightner. CEO of Platinum Crush Corporation, shares leadership insights from his international career across the agricultural, manufacturing, construction and engineering sectors.  He highlights the need for trust and transparency in building effective teams and talks about his own journey to embrace a more collaborative leadership approach.  He en...

In this episode of Driven to Lead with guest Matthew Degyansky, we focus on how we can learn from our own mistakes as leaders and improve both our leadership skills and our business performance.  Matt shares a specific story about his journey managing a group of global business development people in the energy sector, and how his drive to succeed helped him overcome the leadership challenges he fa...

In this episode of Driven to Lead, guest Jon Sievert, CEO of Casper's Truck Equipment and Founding Member of Fourward Uplifting, shares his insights about the beliefs and actions that drive productivity and success in his business.  His mindset is to constantly pursue excellence in customer experience and customer service while partnering with his employees and colleagues in this regard.  The stor...

In this episode of Driven to Lead w/guest Jonny Feld, President & CEO of Field Vans, we get to explore the world of the overland conversion van business.  Jonny has literally grown-up in the business and is an avid off-road adventurer himself.  His family owned company builds its passion for its products into its connections to its employees, its customers and its community.   In fact, the key...

In this episode of Driven to Lead, Uday Deshpande, CEO/CTO of D&V Electronics USA, shares his leadership insights from over 30 years of engineering excellence.  He describes his personal journey from practitioner to leader based on his own appreciation for being trusted and empowered as he was coming up through the ranks.  As you learn a few things about his work in testing and validation of e...

Nothing Like Hard Times to Tame the Egos — In this episode of Driven to Lead, we hear from Mark Sommer, CEO of Del West Engineering & CEO Gamma Alloys in LA County, CA.  His companies are developing high-tech materials with advanced alloy formulations to build parts for exotic vehicles, race cars and high-end Swiss watches.  Mark tells the story of how his team of engineers began with a dislik...

In this episode of Driven to Lead, Linda Lovering shares her inspiring story of growing-up in the car business and seeing her family's businesses transition successfully across three generations.  By playing the long-game and investing in lasting relationships within the community, The Lovering Auto Group has built a brand reputation that has stood the test of time and which is still going strong...

In this episode of Driven to Lead, Alex Papadopulos shares his leadership journey from product engineer to CEO in just a few short years.  Alex highlights the importance of learning to delegate and empower employees as a part of his transition to the C suite.  He also credits his rise to success in great part to having an outstanding mentor who has stood by him all along the way.  His company, Sou...

The episode of Driven to Lead features Kevin Iden, President of Iden's Dealer Services based in Renton, WA.  Kevin shares the leadership principles that have grown his business from very humble beginnings to what is now the largest auto detailing business in the Pacific Northwest.  Kevin's story acknowledges that focusing on client needs and fulfilling them as a key success factor.  But Kevin give...

This episode of Driven to Lead features David J Johnson who is the President and CEO of the National Institute for Automotive Service in Leesburg, VA.  David discusses the success ASE has had building the needed relationships across the auto industry to deliver meaningful service standards and continue to drive service excellence.  The discussion includes David's previous experience leading intern...

In this episode of Driven to Lead with guest Anan Bishara, Founder & CEO of Premium Guard, Inc., we explore a story of true resilience -- starting with the formation of a fledgling US company and ending with what has now become a major international automotive supplier in filtration solutions.  This journey covers the waterfront in terms of what was required of Anan and his team -- from dynami...

This episode of Driven to Lead features our guest Todd Sager who shares his story of founding AWE from very modest beginnings 34 years ago, and building it over time to what is now a major supplier of performance exhaust systems for the automotive industry.  Todd attributes AWE's  long track record of success in great part to his vision that you must build your team of people first and then let th...

Learn to see others to Lead -- In this episode of Driven to Lead, we have a rich conversation with Zach Shefska, the CEO of Car Edge.  The company is a customer advocacy organization that touches one million new and used vehicle intenders per month with its educational and shopping tools that empower a more efficient process in the consumers acquisition of a vehicle.  Zach and his team have grown...

In this episode of Driven to Lead, Kathryn Schifferle shares her journey as a serial entrepreneur who has started seven companies over the years.  In her current company, Work Truck Solutions, she has filled a critical gap in the needed technology to understand up-fit configurations, and help buyers find the work truck they need within the inventory available nationally.  As she continues to innov...

In this episode of Driven to Lead, our guest Gordon Tormohlen shares his story of literally growing-up in the car business.  The success that he and his family have had over the years is due in great part to their customer focused mindset and a strong commitment to service.  Although Gordan has won many awards for business excellence and now serves as the Chairman of the National Independent Auto...

Welcome to the first episode of Driven to Lead! Jarod shares his story regarding the reinvention of Black Book from a traditional publishing company to a digital information powerhouse in the automotive marketing space.  Jarod's leadership journey has reinforced his humble, servant leader mindset, but at the same time, launched him into new territory which required bold moves in innovation, as wel...