Mid-Market Leaders

Mid-market leaders often fall into the trap of "renting" their leads through expensive paid ads—a model that stops working the moment you stop paying. In this episode, Jeff Cass and Brandon Leibowitz (SEO Optimizers) discuss a more sustainable path: building a marketing asset that actually compounds in value. Key Takeaways for Leaders: · Asset vs. Expense: Why organic search dominance should be vi...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Nick Araco Jr., Founder and CEO of The CFO Alliance and AchieveNEXT. With a network of over 10,000 finance leaders, Nick has a unique view of the middle market. They discuss why the traditional "career ladder" is being replaced by a "career lattice," how AI is actually a tool to enable more human connection, and what it really means to be a "Chief Reality Offic...

In this episode, Jeff sits down with Gino Barbaro—investor, entrepreneur, and co-founder of Jake & Gino—to break down what it really takes to scale a business, build wealth, and lead effectively. Gino shares many hard-earned lessons from building a restaurant business that burned him out to scaling a $400M+ real estate portfolio—and the mindset shifts that made it possible. Whether you are leading...

Host Jeff Cass interviews Mart Rovers, founder of Rovers Strategic Advisory, about how mid-market leaders can adopt AI without creating major risk. Rovers argues that AI governance is an enabler, not red tape, because it clarifies decision rights, ownership of risk, and escalation paths before go-live. He highlights common mid-market gaps in data quality and inconsistent definitions (e.g., what co...

In this episode of Mid-Market Leaders, host Jeff Cass sits down with Joe Gallaher, founder of Gallaher Fleet Solutions, a thriving fleet repair and maintenance company based in Statesville, NC. Joe shares his inspiring journey from growing up in a blue-collar family in Bakersfield, CA to becoming a Marine, and eventually an entrepreneur.  He discusses his early struggles, the challenges of startin...

In this episode of Mid-Market Leaders, host Jeff Cass sits down with Stefan Joens, President of Elnik Systems, a 2nd generation international industrial furnace manufacturer based in Charlotte, NC. They discuss the company's transition from New Jersey to North Carolina, focusing on the role of culture and leadership in that move. Stefan shares insights on the importance of core values, fostering a...

In this episode of Mid-Market Leaders, host Jeff Cass interviews George 'Monty' Hall, the recently retired president of LINQ and former owner of Questron. George shares some of the adversity he’s dealt with and used to fuel his dreams both in college football and in business.  His final role before retiring early in 2024 was as President of LINQ Services, where he led a team providing managed serv...

In this episode of Mid-Market Leaders, host Jeff Cass talks with Mike Tinkey, President of Eagle Crusher, a century-old family-owned manufacturing company in Galion, OH. Mike shares his journey from a small town in Grove City, PA, through public accounting, to leading Eagle Crusher. They discuss the company's focus on culture, retention, and leadership development through programs like SOAR and pe...

In this episode, Matt Bradbury, who is the Managing Director for Business Acquisitions & Merger Associates (BAMA), talks about his experiences over the last 2 decades where he & his team have sold more than 200 businesses worth more than $2 billion. Below are some of the key insights Matt shared, along with these other interesting topics that came up during our discussion… Why business leaders sel...

Middle Market Companies make up 3-4% of all companies in the US, but these relatively unknown companies grow 2-3x's faster than new startups or large corporate businesses.  Yes, you heard me correctly...these companies grow their top line and their employment faster than a majority of US businesses!!  So, who are these "rock star" companies, and how do they grow so fast??  That is the question Dou...

Learn how Aaron Bock and his two partners (Brice Ulrey & Jim Campbell) brought their unique vision of a company that would help small and mid-sized companies navigate their IT decisions by being an agnostic/trusted advisor.  It seems simple, but they found this was a huge gap for most companies with less than 2,000 employees.  Six years later, they've been recognized as one of the fastest-growing...

Retired executive and host Jeff Cass launches a new podcast to learn more about some of the most impactful yet unknown American business leaders. Mid-Market businesses make up just 3% of US companies, yet they account for 1/3 of our private sector GDP and employment!! These leaders are truly "Rock Stars" of our economy, and in this first episode, Jeff introduces Chad Beatty, who runs a trucking co...