ROI’s Into the Corner Office Podcast: Powerhouse Middle Market CEOs Telling it Real—Unexpected Caree...

Stephanie Pugliese has been President of the Americas since June 2020. Prior to that, she served as President of North America from September 2019 to May 2020. Prior to joining Under Armour, Ms. Pugliese served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Duluth Trading Company from February 2015 to August 2019, and as President from February 2012 to August 2019. Prior thereto, Ms. Pugliese served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Duluth Trading Company from February 2014 to February 2015, Senior Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer from July 2010 to February 2012, and as Vice President of Product Development from November 2008 to July 2010. Ms. Pugliese also served in various leadership roles with Lands’ End, Inc. from 2005 to 2008 and at Ann Inc. from 2000 to 2003.

Steve Bell is owner and chief executive officer of Pacific Crest Industries, Inc., which most notably includes Bellmont Cabinet Company. Bellmont Cabinet Co. is a family-owned cabinet manufacturer located in Sumner, Washington, dedicated to product innovation, functionality, and timeless yet trend-setting styles. The mission of Bellmont Cabinets is to leave the world a better place, building integrity, respect, and responsibility as stewards of the community and environment. Steve started his company in his garage in the 70’s and built it into a 200-employee, $30 million-a-year maker of high-end cabinets. Then he had to rebuild it again when “the high-rise business went away” with the recession and revenue plunged 60 percent. His sons are now a key part of the Bellmont tradition as it now reaches to almost 300 employees.

Brian Mosley is President of RightNow Media. RightNow Media serves pastors, staff, church members, and other Christian business leaders by producing video-based Bible Studies, creating Leadership Training Resources, and hosting inspirational events and conferences in major cities around the globe. Brian leads the ministry with a quiet and determined leadership style. RightNow believes the mission of the Church matters. Their ultimate goal is to encourage, inspire, and equip millions of Christians to be on mission wherever God has them -- in their home, at work, school, church or around the world. Brian graduated from Baylor University and then married his high school sweetheart, Julie. They have four kids, Abby, Grant, Ashley and Tristan. Two of their kids came through fostering and adoption so they are big fans of orphan care initiatives. They worship and serve at Allen Bible Church where Brian is also an elder.

Backed by nearly 30 years of experience, Jennifer Lemcke first became involved with Weed Man back in 1993 as a manager trainee in Ottawa, Canada. She worked in every position within the company - from marketing to administration to field technician. Jennifer was soon promoted to General Manager where she managed Weed Man Ottawa’s sales and administration divisions and helped grow the franchise revenues from $200,000 to $2,000,000 in five years. This varied experience provided her with valuable, hands-on knowledge and a thorough understanding of the lawn care industry as a whole. The advent of the new millennium brought Jennifer to Weed Man Scarborough. While lending a helping hand to the existing management team and managing the two largest lawn care companies in Canada, Jennifer gained the experience and confidence needed to officially launch the Weed Man brand in the United States. Over the years, the company has grown exponentially with franchise locations all across the country. In 2018, another exciting opportunity presented itself - the opportunity to acquire the rights to the Weed Man brand world-wide. With the systems and success experienced in the United States, it was a natural fit. And one that Jennifer and her team were eager and excited to take on. But it doesn’t stop there! Passionate about growing people and creating opportunities for franchisees and their employees, Weed Man recently turned its latest expanded service offering into its very own sub-brand. Mosquito Hero, powered by Weed Man, was created to provide an additional recurring revenue stream for existing Weed Man franchise owners. Jennifer is now responsible for supporting Weed Man's 10 sub-franchisors and franchisees across the globe, covering over 727 territories within the United States, Canada and the U.K., representing over $215 million in system sales. Jennifer credits her team’s purposeful devotion to the success of the franchisees as the secret to their growth. With the experience Jennifer has gained in the franchising and home services industries, the company recently turned their attention to robotic lawn mowing and started testing the concept of TurfBot Mowing. From mower installation, biweekly trimming and the physical maintenance of the robots, TurfBot offers high-end technology to help homeowners with a simple chore...mowing their lawn. The future of the lawn care and home services industries look rather promising. And Jennifer and her team are excited at what the future has to hold, and look forward to creating more opportunities for expansion in the coming years. Family-oriented (in her home life and in business), Jennifer is ‘Mom’ to three children and takes pride in calling all Weed Man franchisees and employees part of her extended family. Outside of work, she likes to travel, entertain and if not on the move or socializing with her guests, you can find her on the golf course (although self-admittedly, her game could use some work). For more information on franchising with Weed Man, visit us online today at www.weedmanfranchise.com.

Author of the Billion Dollar Start-Up, Sébastien co-founded HEXO Corp. with one goal in mind: to create a world-class company based on the highest standards of product quality and safety. Since 2013, he has secured more than $650 million dollars in financing for the company. His leadership has been instrumental in navigating the company through regulatory, financing and start-up challenges on route to becoming the only significant licensed cannabis producer in Quebec and one of the largest in Canada. Through its hub and spoke business strategy, HEXO Corp. is partnering with Fortune 500 companies, bringing its brand value, cannabinoid isolation technology, licensed infrastructure, and regulatory expertise to established companies, leveraging their distribution networks and capacity. Sébastien holds an MBA in Finance from the Université du Québec à Montréal and completed his Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from the University of Ottawa in 18 months.

Francesca Schuler is passionate about growth and delivering results by building teams, brands and businesses with signature cultures and diverse leadership teams. As the CEO at In-Shape Health Clubs, a California-based chain full service health clubs, Francesca and her team transformed the organization to create a people and experience focused culture. She prioritizes team member development and diversity at all levels, both in the clubs and in all functions. This is evidenced by the increase in women on the leadership team from less than 10% in 2015, to now 50%. Her diverse background in consumer marketing generates innovative thinking in how to create compelling fitness experiences for members to motivate them to live healthy, fit and happy. Francesca joined In-Shape as CMO in 2015 and was promoted to COO in April 2017, before assuming her role as CEO in March 2018. Prior to joining In-Shape, Francesca was the CMO of BevMo!, a specialty beverage retailer based on the West Coast. She joined BevMo! from Treasury Wine Estates Americas where she was CMO, managing a wine portfolio of over 50 brands. Previously, Francesca was the Head of Marketing for Method Products, Inc. a pioneer of premium non-toxic home care products, the VP of Global Brand Management at the Gap and a partner at Marakon Associates, a boutique management consulting firm, where she advised consumer and retail companies. Early in her career, she held several marketing and sales positions at the E&J Gallo Winery. Francesca is currently on the board of O’Neill Vintners & Distillers and The Bundschu Company. She was named the 2019 Woman Leader of the Year by IHRSA, one of 2014 SF Business Times Most Influential Women in Business and was awarded the 2013 Marketers that Matter award for Customer Engagement. She holds an M.B.A. from Wharton and a B.A. in Comparative Literature from Brown University where she also rowed crew. Francesca is Chilean-American, bilingual in Spanish, and loves to travel with her husband Eric and children, Aria and Will.

As founder and CEO of global software design and development firm MentorMate, Björn Stansvik has steered the company’s vision from inception to 700 full-time employees, accelerating digital ideas with end-to-end technology services since 2001. Björn has worked in high-tech and strategic business development in Europe, Latin America, and the United States at leading companies including Procter & Gamble, Ericsson, and Arthur D. Little prior to founding MentorMate in 2001. Björn remains a guiding force for MentorMate, constantly challenging the team to explore the boundaries of new technologies like AI and cloud computing and to pioneer digital innovation in healthcare as well as entering new geographic markets. Under his leadership, the company has grown its design and technical capabilities across multiple industries. MentorMate was named a Top ICT Employer in Bulgaria, and the Star Tribune included MentorMate on its Top 150 Workplaces list. The newest of its seven offices opened in AstraZeneca’s BioVentureHub in Gothenburg, Sweden in 2016. Björn holds a Master’s of Science in Business Administration from the Gothenburg School of Economics and has completed a Master’s thesis in Industrial Economics at the Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden. As a recognized technology innovator, Björn has won numerous distinctions and is a regular speaker to business groups on entrepreneurship, technology, and management.

Pat Carey isn’t just another business owner: he is a walking example of the Canadian entrepreneurial spirit. As a third-generation leader of Wallace & Carey, Canada’s largest, independent distributor, Pat is now leading the evolution of this national, family-owned 100 year success story. With a company motto of ‘Only as a Team’, Wallace & Carey’s foundation was built on the core values of family, integrity, kindness, entrepreneurial spirit, and relationships. Though Pat officially took on the role of CEO in 2018, he jokes that he joined the company when he was born in 1977. Headquartered in Calgary, Wallace & Carey serves more than 7,000 customer locations through their expansive distribution network, which services every postal code in Canada. While based in Alberta, Pat is a Canadian through and through, consistently sharing the message that this is an incredibly country to invest in, one in which everyone is welcome to live, work and prosper. He is a graduate and proud alum of the F.C. Manning School of Business at Acadia University, and an active member of numerous industry organizations and trade groups including the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), ITWAL Limited (A national network of independent, diversified retail and foodservice wholesale distributors), and a lifelong volunteer with community events like the Calgary Stampede. He will tell you that teamwork is the foundation on which all success and opportunity is possible, be it the team at home with his wife and two sons, or with each and every teammate working on behalf of Wallace & Carey.

Dave Powers serves as President & CEO of Deckers Brands, a global footwear and apparel company based in Santa Barbara, Calif. His current role includes prioritizing strategic initiatives and investments to expand the global distribution footprint of Deckers Brands, while also ensuring consumers have a seamless experience when engaging directly with each channel or brand. He focuses on long-term growth and Omni Channel strategies for the company’s five high-performing brands: UGG®, Teva®, Sanuk®, HOKA One One® and Koolaburra®. Since 2012, Dave has served in various roles at Deckers Brands, including spearheading growth initiatives for the company’s brand portfolio as President of Brands and leading direct-to-consumer strategies as President of Direct-to-Consumer. Dave is passionate about consumer-led insight and innovation as well as doing great in business and doing good for people and the planet. His passion for innovation as well as improvement led by consumer insight has resulted in gains in operating margin and revenue. Dave also remains committed to sustainability as well as making a positive societal impact and leading a strong company culture. Under his leadership as President & CEO since 2016, Deckers Brands has received accolades for stellar financial performance and sustainability efforts. In 2019, Deckers was selected by Investor's Business Daily® as one of the 50 Best ESG Companies: A List of Today's Top Stocks For Environmental, Social and Governance Values. The company was also recognized by Footwear News as 2020 Company of the Year for its financial performance and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as well as significant charitable giving for COVID-19 relief. In 2020, Dave was named a 2020 Businessperson of the Year by Fortune, ranking number 13 on their list of top executives. Dave has over twenty years of experience in merchandising, concept development and leadership of global retail operations at some of the industry’s top brands. Prior to joining Deckers Brands, he held executive leadership roles at Converse, including four years as Vice President of Global Direct-to-Consumer where he successfully guided the expansion of the brand globally, and Timberland, where he led worldwide retail merchandising, marketing, visual and store design as well as the creation of a sustainable line of footwear and apparel. A native of New Hampshire, Dave graduated Cum Laude from Northeastern University with a bachelor’s degree in marketing. Now residing in Santa Barbara, Calif., he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two sons.

As President & CEO, David ushered in an era of PRIMED where for 14+ years, PRIMED achieved annual growth of more than 20%. Under his leadership, PRIMED has grown from a small player in acute care PPE in Canada to a global leader in the manufacturing and supply of high-quality PPE products in North America. During his 14 years and prior to COVID-19, PRIMED had grown more than 10 times in top and bottom line under his leadership. Prior to his time at PRIMED, David was the Director of Sales at Acrodex. Acrodex is a leading Western Canadian provider of IT services for mid-tier to large enterprises. Over his 5 years at Acrodex, he led the sales team to record 80% growth in top-line sales. David began his career in both Pharmaceutical and Medical Device (Becton Dickinson) sales.