The Digital Transformist

Construction opportunities have nearly doubled in 2025—and it's not just about buildings. Regional President Damian Eallonardo of W.E. O'Neill Construction reveals that optimism is driving unprecedented demand across the Midwest and beyond, fueling growth in everything from tech campuses to healthcare facilities. In this episode, you'll discover what's really behind the constru...

The water shuts off mid-morning in Houston, and it's a stark reminder: we don't have the infrastructure to power AI at the scale everyone's betting on. Tamika Tyson, a veteran risk advisor with 25+ years managing infrastructure and energy investments, explains why she's not panicking about AI—and why you shouldn't either. In this episode, Tamika breaks down the real bottle...

Is your business outgrowing basic online banking? If you're hitting 7-8 figure revenues with 10+ employees, you might need more than just digital convenience from your bank. In this episode of The Digital Transformist, host Michael LaVista sits down with Mike Goelitz, VP of Commercial Banking at FNBO, to reveal when and why growing businesses should pick up the phone and call their banker. Yo...

Companies like Klarna made headlines for replacing 700 customer service workers with AI agents, only to quietly hire them all back 18 months later. IBM laid off 8,000 employees to implement AI systems, then had to bring people back when they realized the 15% of problems AI couldn't handle contained all the real risk. This episode reveals why the "AI will eliminate jobs" narrative is...

What separates companies that successfully adopt AI from those that get stuck in endless planning cycles? In this episode, Chris Sullivan shares the exact moment he decided to move forward with AI implementation at Painters USA, despite uncertainties and risks. You'll learn how Chris identified a critical business problem costing hundreds of thousands in labor hours, made the strategic decisi...

Think cold calling is the only way to generate leads? John Morris, CEO of 444 Media, went from making 150+ cold calls a day to building a top 5% globally ranked podcast that generates revenue on autopilot. In this episode, he reveals the exact strategy that transformed his business development approach. You'll discover why your first 10 episodes will be terrible (and why that's perfectly...

What if total salary transparency was the key to solving construction's labor crisis? Paul Liles shocked his own team in 2021 when he revealed every employee's compensation and mapped the exact path from entry-level laborer to the C-suite. The results transformed retention at Liles Construction. In this episode, Paul walks through the infrastructure boom happening across the Carolinas an...

In this episode of The Digital Transformist, host Michael LaVista sits down with Brian Floriani, Founder & Steward of BUKU Branded and founder of Bernie's Book Bank. Brian shares his innovative approach to social entrepreneurship, combining branded products with literacy advocacy to create sustainable impact. Brian discusses how he founded Bernie's Book Bank in 2009 with the mission...

Are you a CPG brand struggling to scale without breaking the bank on senior talent? In this episode of The Digital Transformist, host Michael LaVista sits down with Les Hamilton, founder and CEO of CPG Integrated, to reveal the strategic moves CPG brands should make today to break through growth barriers. You'll discover why most growing brands get "sticker shock" when hiring senior...

Beth Trejo, founder and CEO of ChatterKick, joins Mike LaVista on The Digital Transformist to talk about why trust is the word of the year -- and what that means for your brand's digital presence. From the dangers of AI-generated content flooding social media to why picking up your phone and recording a 30-second video is still the most powerful move a CEO can make, Beth shares 14 years of ha...

Most business owners are sitting on a shocking amount of hidden profit - and they don't even know it. Tim Van Mieghem, operational excellence expert and author of "Shocking Profit," joins Mike LaVista on The Digital Transformist to break down the three places every business is bleeding money: broken processes, undertrained sales teams, and Excel spreadsheets held together with duct...

Welcome to The Digital Transformist with Michael LaVista! In this episode, we dive into the complex world of copyrights and AI with our special guest, Hannah Deason, the Chief Operating Officer at Caxy. The conversation delves into the legal and ethical implications of using training material for artificial intelligence, especially in light of recent copyright lawsuits that have rocked the industr...

Welcome to The Digital Transformist with Michael LaVista! In this episode, we have the privilege of chatting with Mark Pace, the CEO and founder of the Vital Longevity Institute. Mark's insights into longevity and financial management will completely shift your perspective on life expectancy and how it relates to your future.  Mark sheds light on the fact that most life insurance policies are...

Welcome to The Digital Transformist with Mike LaVista! In today's episode, we have the incredible Karen Todd sharing her inspiring journey of building her companies, including her current role as CEO and founder of Aurore Financial Group. Karen delves into her background in the real estate industry and how her company focuses on GP investments in sponsors who specialize in areas like multi-fa...

Welcome to The Digital Transformist! In this episode, we have the dynamic CEO of Gemini Builds It, Courtney Wright, joining us for an exciting conversation. Courtney shares a captivating story of how she reconnected with our host, Mike, after years of being in different circles, and how their chance encounter led to this engaging discussion. Gemini Builds It is a US-based manufacturing company spe...

Our guest, Matt, the head of talent at our company, shares some eye-opening statistics about the impending changes in the labor market. With 2.7 million boomers expected to retire by 2030, there is a growing gap in the workforce that needs to be filled by millennials and Gen Z. Manufacturing and skilled labor positions are in high demand, with 450,000 jobs currently open and more to come in the fu...

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? In this engaging and informative video/podcast, we're diving into the 2x, 10x, and 1,000x growth plan strategies that could revolutionize your organization.  Imagine being able to scale your business without the headache of hiring and training more people. The key? A digital scaling model that can unlock untapped potential in your industr...

In this eye-opening video, we delve into the concept of black swan events and how they can impact not only your business but also your personal life. Drawing from real-life experiences, the speaker shares how a seemingly minor issue overlooked for years led to a major crisis. Just like the unexpected appearance of black swans challenged the belief that all swans are white, black swan events in bus...

In this captivating podcast episode, we sit down with Rob Cioffi, CEO of Forefront Supply Chain Solutions, who shares his incredible journey of transforming a traditional business into a data-driven powerhouse. Rob's keen eye for opportunity led him to see the untapped potential in the wealth of data that his company possessed, and he wasted no time in leveraging AI and innovative initiatives...

Welcome back to the podcast for part two of our roundtable discussion on serving companies in the middle market looking to grow and exit. Join Mike LaVista, John Lanier, Tim Behmigian, and Tim Pagett as they dive into the ever-changing landscape of business, technology, and market conditions. In this episode, the team explores the shift towards operational impact over financial engineering, citing...

Welcome to The Digital Transformist podcast, where today we're shaking things up with a round table discussion featuring three industry experts: Tim Padgett, Tim Van Mieghem, and John Lanier. These seasoned professionals all specialize in serving middle market companies looking to grow and exit successfully. Throughout this episode, they delve into the common challenges faced by businesses in...

Welcome to The Digital Transformist with Mike LaVista! Today, we have a special guest, Marnie Wills, the CEO and founder of Sporty Minis, sharing her incredible journey from a non-tech person to an AI and tech trainer who successfully scaled and sold two businesses using AI. Marnie's story is a testament to the power of embracing technology and transforming business models in the digital age....

Welcome to The Digital Transformist podcast! Today, we have a fascinating guest, Ken Tencer, the founder and CEO of Say Hi to the Future. Ken shares his unique insights on human ingenuity, future thinking, AI, and how these factors impact the workplace. Hailing from Canada, Ken's wealth of experience as an entrepreneur and author shines through as he delves into the evolution of innovation an...

Why Human Skills Matter More Than Ever With AI Welcome to The Digital Transformist with Mike LaVista! In this engaging episode, Mike sits down with Beth Rivelli, a seasoned professional with over 20 years of experience in both technology and coaching. The conversation takes an intriguing turn as they delve into the impact of AI on job roles and the importance of the human element in the workplace....

Welcome to The Digital Transformist with Mike LaVista! In today's episode, we dive into the world of personal branding for executives with Alan McLaren from STRATA Originals. If you've ever wondered about the benefits of fine-tuning how others perceive you, this conversation is for you. Ellen breaks down the misconception that personal branding is all about self-promotion and highlights...