Timeout With Leaders

Tyler White and Kevyn Rustici sit down with Nikisha Ridgeway, the President and CEO of Starbridge, a transformative organization that partners with individuals with disabilities, their families, and their supporters to create opportunities in education, employment, and healthy living.  Nikisha is a remarkable leader who embodies the spirit of curiosity, perseverance, and collaboration. She believe...

Join us as we sit down with Michael Ognenovski, the current President of Sydor Optics Inc. in Rochester, NY. Mike's story is a testament to the power of personal growth, resilience, and effective leadership. Mike shares invaluable insights that have shaped his journey as a leader, providing a roadmap for success and personal growth. Tune in to hear Mike's inspiring journey, gain valuable leadershi...

This week we take a TIMEOUT with Patrick Luckett, the CEO of Best Day Ever. Patrick's unique journey from being a head manager for Syracuse men's basketball under Coach Jim Boeheim to becoming a successful entrepreneur offered profound insights into leadership, consistency, and motivation. Patrick Luckett's journey is a testament to the power of leadership, consistency, and personal growth. His ex...

Join us on an inspiring journey with Dale Sedgwick as she shares her powerful message: 'Do something today that makes tomorrow better.' As a faith-based leader, Dale focuses on providing hope to those society and the business community may have forgotten about. In this enlightening podcast, Dale reminds us that the Bible's practical wisdom is rooted in stories that connect us all. She emphasizes t...

TIMEOUT with Michael Backus, a part-time basketball referee, and President & Chief Executive Officer of Oswego Health, an independent community-based health system. He brings a whole new meaning to leadership in healthcare and a potential blueprint for others to learn from. "Find the best people to get on the bus with you" Transparency, vulnerability, and communication are how Mike has spread...

This week we take a timeout with Gwen Van Laeken, Executive Director of Leadership Rochester, a personal and professional program dedicated to bringing leaders together to solve our community challenges.  When we are able to present the challenge and effectively communicate with one another we can grow our perspective while achieving positive outcomes when we value each voice along the way. Gwen s...

Are we providing enough empowerment, encouragement, and enablement to those currently or previously incarcerated to become successful contributing members of our community? We sit down with Kardell Sims, who shares his journey with us which serves as his motivation to do more for others!  His story, passion, and compassion is a lesson for all of us.

Do you believe that humans and AI can co-exist? Tyler and Kevyn sit down to separate fact from fiction as it relates to AI with Ryan Carrier, Executive Director of ForHumanity. His non-profit is focused on ensuring the safety and equity of AI, machine learning, and analytics to protect all our human interests. AI has been talked about feverishly since the release of ChatGPT but Ryan shares that th...

We hope you are ready for this TIMEOUT with Ann Banks, President of DebtBlue in Richardson, Texas.  Join in as we talk about meeting Michael Jordan, Walter Payton, and Ann's brother out at Wrigley Stadium as we jam out to So Lonely by the Police. Ann Banks shares how being an English teacher, and principal while enjoying life has helped her to become the leader she is today.  Listening is not some...

Make leadership fun again! Timeout with Leaders takes a TIMEOUT with Michelle Ashby, the inspiring founder, and CEO of Tipping Point Communications. As we learned that we would be sitting with Gandhi, MLK JR, and Michelle's mother at her own funeral, we got a sense of who Michelle was. Leadership is all about having fun, Michelle says and in her own journey, she has reprioritized her definition of...

We grab our saddles and head out to the old Western Front with Jeff Sinsebox, President of Empowering People's Independence. A few other cowboys have decided to join the trek including FDR, Bob Dylan, and Robin Williams, as Jeff perfects his Clint Eastwood voice.  Jeff is a t-shirt and jeans kind of guy, but he had mentioned his own personal evolution of knowing who he was but realized he was not...

4th quarter, down by 2, 3.5 seconds to go… TIMEOUT!!!!! With the President of US Ceiling Corp, Melissa James-Geska What’s our game plan team? That’s an easy one coach, give the ball to Melissa James-Geska and get out of her way!!! We had the opportunity to sit down with Melissa and find out what gets her out of bed in the morning and most importantly, what she’s learned from her experiences in lif...

We blew the whistle and from the opening question we knew that Roseann Schmid was different. She was unapologetically herself, not afraid to share her personal side and how that factored into everything she does as a leader. "Be kind to everyone because you don't know what they are going through" Roseann Schmid, works as CEO of Fisher Associates, here in Rochester however what is most impressive i...

A special thank you to all our current military service and veterans. We take a Timeout with Mike Klemmer, CEO, and Founder of Aerial Resupply Coffee, a courageous military veteran focused on the front-line workers who are commonly forgotten or overlooked. Sometimes we suffer from paralysis from over-analysis in today's informed world, preventing us from taking that leap of faith, betting on ourse...

As we get back into the swing of things after a new addition to the Timeout with Leaders family, Tyler White and Kevyn Rustici sit down with Daniel Bajus, Owner of Limitless Physical Therapy in Rochester, NY. "I find it ironic that in healthcare our number #1 problem today is burnout." said Dan, continuing to say "We take care of people but we can't take care of people at the same time." From the...

This week Kevyn has a one-on-one conversation with Mike Colyer, Chief Executive Officer of Foundry in Rochester.  Foundry has exploded since Mike Colyer started as employee number 1 to now over 170 employees, mind you this was all during a global pandemic. Mike shared that growing up he remembers seeing and missing opportunities during the dot-com era because he was afraid to take a risk. That all...

This week we take a TIMEOUT with Shan Foster basketball legend, the all-time leader in both points and three-pointers made at Vanderbilt University, drafted by the Dallas Mavericks in 2008. Today Shan Foster is Co-Founder and CEO of Fostering Healthy Solutions committed to taking the lessons he learned on and off the court to inspire others. Focusing on creating safe spaces to have difficult conve...

We take a timeout this week with Tom Ulbrich, President & CEO of Goodwill of Western New York.  Did I Live, Did I Love, Did I Matter This is the billboard that Tom would put up on I-90 for all of us to read, to ensure we are the best leaders we can be at home, at work, and in the community in which we all live and work. Tom shares that his goal as CEO and President has always been to create a busi...

Timeout with Leaders kicks off Season 3 with a BANG sitting down with Chelsea Conway, CEO at Conway Beam Truck Group in Rochester.  We talk about leadership and racewalking in the Olympic trials. In case you were wondering Chelsea has a 7:14 average mile time but this wasn't her biggest challenge. Chelsea stepped in as CEO of the family-owned business which started in 1951, but she was the daughte...

“Let me tell you how I got to the Whitehouse”   We had the honor and privilege to sit down with Dale Petroskey. When you’ve been President Ronald Regan’s Press Secretary, The President of the Baseball Hall of Fame, Vice President of National Geographic, and now the CEO of the #1 Chamber of Commerce in the country, how do you stay hungry? Well, Dale has the answers and experiences to share on this...

Have you ever realized that YOU, yourself are the common denominator? We take a TIMEOUT with Brittany Simmons Willis 9-5preneur and a franchise business owner when she is off the clock with the day job.   More and more professionals are realizing that they have more time and value they can give in return for a "side" hustle. Starting your own business can seem "crazy" to some because they would ne...

Boxing, Life, and Leadership what do they all have to do with one another?  Tyler White and Kevyn Rustici take a TIMEOUT with Mayhem, aka Jeff Pier, Executive Director at the Child Care Council in Rochester, NY! There aren't many leaders like Jeff but then again not many people have a theme song written for them either. "Bring out the Mayhem"  He shares his stories of sparing with Oscar De La Hoya...

We sit down with Pat Smith, CEO of Serve Denton located in Denton, Texas down is Tyler's country, everything is said to be bigger in Texas! His favorite meal and musician is George Strait, and he has a big heart for his community and our country. He is a veteran and now has turned his mission into serving the Denton, Texas community.  Desperation is a powerful force, if you aren't failing then you...

We take a TIMEOUT with Wade Norwood, Chief Executive Officer for Common Ground Health, one of the nation's oldest and most effective regional health planning organizations located in Rochester, NY! Wade shared that leaders today need to find more joy and peace in their lives today in order to lead effectively. Practicing gratitude often helps to keep things in perspective for him. Wade's focus on...

Join Tyler and Kevyn as we sit down with Anthony Ditucci, President and COO at Livingston Associates. Tony is a father of 5 but takes the lessons he has learned at home and brings them into his leadership style and practices.  Tony has learned early on that it is all about the people, the relationships that you are able to build with those individuals and how you drive #teamthink in order to uncov...