The Journey To CEO Success

Culture doesn’t happen by accident; it’s built every day by what you tolerate and how you appreciate. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success Podcast, Sean Farrell , CEO of QDS, Inc. , joins Patrick Thean , co-founder of Rhythm Systems, to share how intentional leadership shapes culture from the inside out. From holding the line on standards to celebrating people in meaningful ways, Sean exp...

When Shannon Coomes , started as an engineer, she never imagined she’d one day be leading one of the top fire protection companies in the country. As President of Hill Fire Protection LLC, Shannon shares how she built confidence in rooms where she was often the only woman, the lessons that shaped her leadership journey, and her advice for young women entering male-dominated fields. In this convers...

Every leader faces moments where the path forward isn’t clear - inflection points that force us to choose between staying comfortable or stepping into something bigger. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean sits down with Dominic Rapini , CEO of Queralt, Inc. , to unpack how great leaders recognize these pivotal moments and act decisively even when the outcome isn’t guarant...

If you could sit down with your younger self from 20 years ago, what would you say? In this candid and insightful episode of The Journey to CEO Success, host Patrick Thean sits down with Bob Denison , President of Denison Yachting , to rewind the clock and unpack the mistakes, mindset shifts, and defining lessons that shaped his leadership journey. Whether you're just starting your leadership...

On this episode of The Journey to CEO Success Podcast, Patrick Thean sat down with Greg Horejs , President of CAGE Civil Engineering, Inc., to talk about two themes that every leader should be thinking about. First, the power of sabbaticals - why giving your team space to step away and recharge can spark creativity, deepen loyalty, and strengthen performance. Second, the importance of mission and...

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean sits down with Eric Schenker , CEO of Coolcore , to discuss how passion can fuel career success and why writing down your goals is a game-changer. Eric shares his personal journey of aligning passion with purpose, lessons learned in leading Coolcore, and the discipline behind turning vision into action. Whether you’re leading a team or...

In this episode, Patrick sits down with Drew Golin , COO of DealerFLEX , to explore two powerful themes that have shaped his leadership journey: the importance of expressing gratitude to the people who influence our lives, and the lessons on teamwork and ownership carried over from sports into business. Drew shares personal stories of mentors and teammates who left lasting marks on his life, and h...

What role does passion really play in building a successful career and a fulfilling life? In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean sits down with Warren Johnson , CEO of Scribe-X , to explore how finding your true passion can shape your career path, fuel resilience, and drive long-term success. Warren shares his own journey of aligning purpose with work, why passion is more th...

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean talks with Mike Whitehead , CEO of Intentional Leadership , about two powerful shifts that shaped his leadership: moving beyond dualistic “either/or” thinking and starting each day with gratitude. Mike shares how letting go of rigid categories opened him up to feedback, new perspectives, and a deeper connection with others. He also expl...

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean sits down with Phil Buchy , CEO of Legion Brewing , to explore the values that have shaped his entrepreneurial path. From embracing openness in leadership to prioritizing genuine human connection to staying rooted in passion through the highs and lows, Phil shares how these principles have fueled Legion Brewing’s growth and culture. Thi...

Selling a business is one of the biggest decisions a founder will ever make, and it’s not just a financial one. In this episode, Kevon Saber , CEO of Legacy Outcomes , joins Patrick Thean to explore the emotional complexities that come with letting go of something you’ve built. Together, they discuss how to avoid regret, stay rooted in your values, and navigate the deeply personal transition of se...

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Michael Grande , President & CEO of Vancord , joins Patrick Thean to explore what it really takes to lead through change, with patience, intentional progress, and a people-first mindset. Michael shares hard-earned insights on: How to embrace career transitions and find joy in the unknown Why employee feedback is essential for continuous improveme...

What does it take to lead a family business across five generations, and still keep growing? In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , I sit down with Adria and Aaron Bagshaw of WH Bagshaw , the oldest pin manufacturer in America, to talk about legacy, reinvention, and leadership through change. We explore how they've navigated modern challenges while honoring 150+ years of history, and how...

From one embroidery machine to 1 million patches a day, Randy Carr⁠ , President & CEO of ⁠World Emblem™⁠ .shares how he scaled a family business into the world’s largest patch producer. Listen as Melissa Verzwyvelt Saunders and I sit down with Randy Carr, CEO & President, World Emblem, the ‘World’s Largest Patch Producer’. Randy took over his dad’s business in 1993 and grew the company fro...

Want to become the brand your customers can’t live without? It’s not just about what you sell - it’s how you make people feel. Join special guest John R. DiJulius III , Chief Revolution Officer at The The DiJulius Group , on the next episode of The Journey to CEO Success hosted by Patrick Thean . John reveals how world-class brands win loyalty for life by creating unforgettable customer experience...

Listen as Melissa Saunders and I sit down with our guest, Manny Ohonme, Co-Founder, President, and CEO of Samaritans Feet International. Manny grew up in Nigeria and received his very first pair of shoes at the age of nine from a stranger he calls a “Good Samaritan.” That moment sparked a journey that led to a college basketball scholarship in the U.S., a successful career in tech, and ultimately,...

In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean sits down with serial entrepreneur Colin Campbell, Founder of Startup Club, to explore the raw truth behind launching and growing multiple ventures. From crushing failures to successful exits, Colin shares the mindset shifts, hard-won lessons, and powerful frameworks that helped him start, scale, exit, and repeat. If you’ve ever wondere...

True leadership isn’t about having all the answers, it’s about having the courage to face your fears. Pedro Cons, CEO of Adelante Healthcare, shares how embracing vulnerability became the key to building a confident, empowered team. On this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean and Melissa Saunders sit down with Pedro Cons, CEO of Adelante Healthcare, to explore the power of vulner...

What if your greatest leadership strength isn’t control, but flexibility? In this episode, leadership expert Kevin Eikenberry shares how adaptable leaders drive growth, clarity, and long-term success in an ever-changing world. They explore how rigid leadership styles can limit growth, the importance of adapting to context, and how to balance outcomes with relationships. Kevin also reveals how smal...

Can writing a bold letter land you your dream role or change the entire course of your career? In this episode, Paul Pirkle, President & COO of Midwest Ground Covers, shares how confidence, mentorship, and marathon-worthy endurance shaped his rise to leadership. What do baseball slumps, million-dollar mistakes, and marathon miles have to do with becoming a successful President & COO? Quite...

What does it take to grow a $100M business without losing your purpose or yourself? In this powerful episode, former CEO and current Executive Director Mimi Crawford of Crayex Corporation shares how she scaled her family company with trust, curiosity, and a people-first mindset. With over three decades of leadership experience, Mimi shares the story of transforming her family business from $28M to...

What happens when you pair entrepreneurial grit with a relentless focus on people and purpose? Stuart Bentley, co-founder of triOS College, shares how a 30+ year business partnership transformed the lives of thousands through career-focused education and bold leadership. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick and Melissa sit down with Stuart Bentley, Co-Founder of triOS College an...

What do Alice in Wonderland and digital medical imaging have in common? Join us as Dave Cook, CEO of InsiteOne, shares his remarkable journey—from selling one of the world’s largest SaaS imaging companies to reclaiming its leadership and reigniting its culture. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Melissa and Patrick sit down with Dave Cook, a seasoned tech entrepreneur and the current...

What do no-failure industries, third-generation leadership, and bold decision-making have in common? Today’s guest, Tanya DiSalvo, lives at the intersection of all three. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , hosts Melissa Saunders and Patrick Thean sit down with Tanya DiSalvo—CEO of Criterion Tool, a precision machine shop serving mission-critical industries like aerospace, medical devi...

Trying to sell to “mid-market tech companies” or “CFOs”? That’s not a core customer, it’s a segment. In this episode, Patrick breaks down how identifying the real person behind the purchase decision is the turning point from struggling to scaling. In this episode of The Journey to CEO Success , Patrick Thean shares the critical lesson he learned the hard way: real growth starts when you deeply und...