Success Stories with Steve Cross

In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross welcomes Keith Simmons, president and founder of Traveler of Charleston magazine and TourPass.com. From Youngstown State grad to Charleston entrepreneur, Keith shares his journey of building businesses in the tourism space. We dive into his transition from corporate sales to launching a visitor magazine in a competitive market, the growth of Tou...

In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross sits down with Jason Pirock, VP of Global Brand Marketing at OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels. Jason shares how early clarity and intentionality shaped his 20-year marketing journey, from internships and corporate roles at Target and Hyatt to brand-building at boutique hotel groups and now leading a global, beach-forward brand. He breaks down the...

From climbing out of small-town adversity to leading companies in one of the toughest industries in the country, this entrepreneurship journey is anything but ordinary. In this episode of Success Stories, Brian Ford, Co-Founder and CEO of FordCom Wireless and FordCom Electric, pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to build, lose, rebuild, and lead with purpose. The conversation dives into...

Today, we’re sitting down with Colin Rhodes, CEO of SOMOS Energy Solutions, for an inspiring deep dive into his career journey, from working construction jobs with his father to leading innovative renewable energy projects across solar, battery storage, and green hydrogen. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a clean energy enthusiast, or simply love hearing real-world leadership lessons, this episode...

In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross sits down with Sean Loomer, founder of Culture For Good. Sean opens up about 40+ years of entrepreneurship, from selling gum in grade school to pioneering prepaid phone cards, building and exiting companies, and now leading a mission-driven wellness brand. We dig into mindset, timing (and why there’s never a “perfect” moment), trust and partners...

At just 12 years old, Noah Price was sweeping job sites in rural Idaho. Today, he’s the President of Dynamic Trades Incorporated (DTI), a thriving national commercial construction firm based in Auburn, California. His journey is anything but typical — and it’s packed with real-world insights on leadership, growth, and resilience. “ By the end of high school, I thought I knew everything. But I was...

In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross sits down with DJ Yokley, CEO and founder of YSN (Your Sports Network). DJ shares how growing up in a double-wide with two hard-working parents shaped his grit, why a high school extra-credit assignment behind a mic changed his life, and how a series of career setbacks (including layoffs and being told he didn’t “fit” on air) ultimately pushed h...

In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross sits down with Barb Ewing, CEO of the Youngstown Business Incubator (YBI), to talk about her career journey, leadership lessons, and the impact YBI is making on entrepreneurship, startups, and advanced manufacturing in the Mahoning Valley and across Ohio. Barb shares how her path from nonprofit work and government affairs led her to YBI, where s...

Brad Stutzman, Founder & CEO of O3 Energy, dives into his journey from banking to becoming a leader in the renewable energy industry. Brad shares how he transitioned from financing construction projects to developing solar and wind energy solutions, the pivotal moments that shaped his leadership style, and the lessons he learned from both wins and setbacks. Whether you’re an entrepreneur, a le...

Henry started his career as a young civil engineer, but it didn’t take long before his focus shifted from concrete specs to business strategy. Nearly three decades later, he’s helped expand a premium roofing brand into more than 40 U.S. states—one relationship, one region, and one smart decision at a time. “You're going to make mistakes,” Henry says. “But that just means you're doing somet...

At just 21 years old, Andrew Dennis left England with nothing but a suitcase and a dream, and he never looked back. Today, he’s the President and Founder of GigaCrete, an innovative building materials company changing the way the world constructs homes. His journey spans continents, industries, and decades of trial-and-error experimentation. And at the heart of it all? A relentless drive to build...

From Brookfield roots to global boardrooms, this is how hustle, curiosity, and AI are reshaping success. In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross sits down with Jeff Leo Herrmann, Global Client Director at Kantar. Jeff takes us from his Brookfield roots to a career built on curiosity, a bias for action, and creating opportunities inside large organizations. He shares what it was like p...

In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross talks with Derrick McDowell, founder of Youngstown Flea and independent candidate for Mayor of Youngstown. Derrick shares how personal loss, faith, and perseverance shaped his path from a 12-year leadership career at AT&T to building the Flea, a thriving “market for makers” that’s become a local institution. He opens up about buying and rest...

In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross sits down with Peter Caputa, CEO of Databox and former early team leader at HubSpot (employee #15). Pete walks through the pivots that shaped his career—from chemical engineering and a scrappy startup, to building HubSpot’s partner program into a revenue powerhouse, to leading Databox from ~$60k ARR to eight figures as a largely bootstrapped Saa...

In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross sits down with Liza Streiff, CEO of Knopman Marks, to talk about resilience, leadership, and building a career rooted in purpose. Liza opens up about her powerful personal journey, from overcoming early family struggles and navigating college challenges to discovering her passion for helping professionals succeed in high-stakes moments. The conv...

In this episode of Success Stories , we sit down with Dominic Montori, Senior Vice President of Sales at American Tire Distributors, the largest replacement tire wholesaler in the U.S. and the world. From scraping stickers off warehouse floors to leading billion-dollar operations, Dominic’s career path is packed with lessons on grit, risk-taking, leadership, and the power of mentorship. Whether yo...

What does it take to go from a college dropout to the president of a leading healthcare company? Steve Cross sits down with Dan Halas, President of Angel Care Medical, to uncover the gritty, real-world path to entrepreneurial success. From humble beginnings to industry leadership, Dan shares the mindset, moments, and mentors that helped shape his incredible journey, and how he pays it forward now....

In this episode of Success Stories, we sit down with Robert Pelletier, Owner & President of Pacific Hardwood, to dive deep into his remarkable journey from corporate executive to scaling a high-end manufacturing business nearly 4x in just a few years. Robert shares the lessons he learned from leading large-scale operations at companies like Unilever and RSI Home Products, the pivotal role of m...

In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross sits down with Marvin Logan, Director of Education and Employment at Rocket Community Fund. Marvin takes us on his inspiring journey from growing up in Warren, Ohio, to becoming a leader in social impact and philanthropy. He reflects on the values his father instilled in him, his early exposure to volunteering, and the mentors who helped shape h...

Failure doesn’t have to be final; it can be one of the most powerful tools for growth and leadership. In this conversation, Adam Hickman shares how documenting his own failures for years has shaped not only his personal journey but also how he develops and leads others. From creating a safe space for mistakes to fostering a culture of learning, Adam’s insights will challenge the way you think abou...

In this episode of Success Stories, host Steve Cross sits down with Ed Kiernan, founder of Stream Engine, to dive into his incredible journey, from building a career in sports marketing and entertainment to pioneering cutting-edge AI technology with real-world applications in defense, intelligence, and law enforcement. Ed shares how growing up in Northeast Ohio shaped his grit, the lessons learned...

Welcome back to Success Stories! In this episode, we sit down with Lindsay Kaplan, co-founder of Chief, the groundbreaking executive network designed to connect and support women leaders. From her early days in book publishing to becoming the first employee at Casper and eventually co-founding Chief, Lindsay shares her non-linear journey to entrepreneurship and leadership. If you’ve ever wondered...

From Washington, D.C. to leading Ohio’s tech future — Chris Berry’s story is one of leadership, resilience, and building something from scratch. In this episode, he shares how OhioX is connecting innovators, growing opportunity, and shaping the state’s technology landscape. In this episode of Success Stories with Steve Cross, we sit down with Chris Berry, President & CEO of OhioX, to dive into...