What's Up At Work?

Meet Dalithia Smith, a people-first leader who believes confidence, continuous learning, and strategic thinking are the keys to helping organizations thrive through change. As Chief Human Resources Officer at Oatey, Dalithia leads people strategy for an organization focused on growth, innovation, and long-term success. Her work centers on helping employees develop the confidence, judgment, and cap...

Meet Dr. James Voos, the leader behind one of the most expansive sports medicine programs in the country, connecting professional sports, healthcare innovation, youth athletics, research, and community wellness across Northeast Ohio. As Chair of Orthopedic Surgery at University Hospitals and Head Team Physician for the Cleveland Browns, Dr. Voos oversees a growing network that now supports more th...

In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Brian Barren, President of Business Operations for the Cleveland Guardians, to talk about what it really takes to lead behind the scenes of a professional sports organization. While fans see what happens on the field, Brian oversees nearly everything else—from revenue growth and fan experience to talent strategy, cultur...

Timestamps & Topics 00:30 Introduction 01:30 What is Material Handling? 05:00 Moving in to the CEO role 07:15 Adapting to a changing landscape 10:00 Shifting member expectations 12:10 Building community and MHEDA Net Groups 17:00 Growing up in a revenue-driven environment 19:30 Being transparent through transitions 24:00 HR Hot Seat 27:40 Important leadership habits  

Is building a truly great workplace about perks and policies? Or about showing up and listening to the people who make the work happen? Meet Cindy Torres Essell, Chief People Officer at Heinen’s, the family-owned grocery company serving communities across Northeast Ohio. Cindy’s path to leadership didn’t follow a straight line, but each chapter shaped how she leads today: with curiosity, empathy,...

Meet Austin Merk, President of Universal Oil, a nearly 150-year-old, 100% employee-owned organization. Universal Oil is a distributor of fuels and industrial lubricants serving customers across construction, manufacturing, and transportation, right here in Cleveland. In this episode, Austin shares what it looks like when a new leader takes the helm of a long-standing company and starts shaping its...

What if your DEI work came with a revenue target, developed your next leaders, and grew the business at the same time? Kevin Clayton, Executive Vice President & Chief Impact and Equity Officer at the Cleveland Cavaliers, joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to show how DEI has become a core business strategy. Kevin breaks down equity as fixing systems like feedback, hiring, promotions, and compensation...

She talks with host Sam Clyde Schroeder about simple ways to tell when work is merely uncomfortable versus truly unmanageable, how to design wellness efforts that actually help, what Gen Z needs to thrive, and how to better support working parents. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and why mental health shows up in performance, retention, and leadership 01:00 Meet Dr. Lisa Damour and her focus on turning e...

In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Jessica Jung, President of Oswald Companies, to talk about her path to leading one of the country’s top insurance firms. Jessica shares how rolling up your sleeves can model the kind of leadership people want to follow, how to find anyone’s “superpower,” and how leaders can create safe environments where people feel com...

There’s a side of military leadership most people never see—one built on trust, delegation, and learning through failure. Dave Banyard brings those lessons straight into his position as CEO. In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Dave Banyard, President and CEO of MasterBrand, the largest residential cabinet manufacturer in North America. Before running a multi-b...

Kelly Keefe, President and CEO of ERC, shares the highs and lows of stepping into a new leadership role 30 days before the world shut down. She also shares strategies she’s used to connect more deeply, lead more intentionally, and tap into the power of her peers. You’ll hear about her non-traditional career path from Deloitte consultant to part-time HR volunteer to leading ERC, and how she navigat...

What convinced Matt Dailey to leave private equity and buy a chemical company on a handshake deal—would you take that leap? In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Matt Dailey, President and CEO of Royal Chemical, to talk about his bold transition from investment banker to manufacturing executive. You’ll hear how Matt targeted acquisition opportunities with d...

Is it possible for a nonprofit to pay above-market wages and still thrive? Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, says yes—and she’s got the results to prove it. In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Kristin joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to talk about building an award-winning culture in one of Northeast Ohio’s largest nonprofits. She shares how the Food Bank pri...

"Leaders create the weather." That simple mindset, along with setting clear leadership expectations, continuous development, and defining the ideal leader can help you bridge the gap between training and real performance. Join host Sam Clyde Schroeder as she sits down with Scott Allen, PhD—a leadership consultant, educator, keynote speaker, and podcast host. In this episode, Scott shares his journ...

In our latest episode of “What’s Up at Work?” we talked with Chris Adams, President and CEO of Park Place Technologies. Host Sam Clyde Schroeder dives into Chris’s journey from CFO to CEO and how his data-driven approach is fueling the company’s exponential growth. You’ll hear firsthand insights on scaling culture during rapid expansion, integrating acquisitions, and creating a workplace that attr...

Is your hiring process losing you top talent before you even make an offer? If you’re still waiting to “see just one more candidate,” you might already be too late. In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde-Schroeder sits down with Blake Babcock, Vice President of Client Engagement at Staffing Solutions Enterprises, to unpack the realities of today’s hiring landscape. They discuss the...

Episode Highlights & Timestamps: 06:30 - Shaping a culture with core values: why guardrails matter more than lengthy mission statements 12:15 - Retention, recruitment, and the power of investing in HR 18:45 - Rapid growth: going from 300 to 600 employees in six months—what Josh learned 21:25 - NorthCoast 99 recognition: how wellness benefits and employee groups pay off 28:15 - Working with an exec...

Episode Highlights & Timestamps: 02:00 - Brian’s journey to CEO at Embrace and how embracing curiosity shaped his career 08:30 - Happiness vs. fulfillment: why they’re not the same—and why it matters for leaders 20:10 - The remote vs. in-office debate: Brian’s unique take on what really works for people 25:20 - One hilariously messy “Bring Your Pet to Work” moment (spoiler: it involves a giant dog...