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

Dale Easdon is on a mission to scale clean eating without compromise. As the chief executive officer of Snap Kitchen, he is responsible for taking the company’s omnichannel business model to the next level. Under his leadership, the team is focused on introducing quick store pickup, healthy meal planning, and home delivery—all driven by the new digital app. Previously serving as the chief operating officer, Easdon’s tenure has been marked by an expansion to a state-of-the-art kitchen, wholesale growth, and a proven track record for building winning teams who focus on performance-based leadership. Dale’s commitment to cooking fresh hand- cooked meals to scale is a true differentiator for the brand. Before joining Snap Kitchen, Dale spent time at Taylor Farms, where he served as the chief operating officer. He also spent over eight years at LSG Sky Chefs, holding multiple positions within the company, including chief operating officer for the UK office. During his time at LSG Sky Chefs, Dale was responsible for various roles, including managing over 9,000 employees, strategic deployment, operational excellence globally and his final assignment which had him managing the US market with revenues of $850 million. Prior to LSG Sky Chefs, Dale spent over nine years as a senior director of food services at Continental Airlines during the business turnaround under the leadership of Gordon Bethune. Dale graduated from Manchester University and The Royal Institute of Public Health and Hygiene. He built his career driving lean manufacturing with training alongside The Porsche Group in Germany, where he also attended the Porsche Academy for Lean Logistics. Dale, originally from Scotland, lives in Austin with his wife Linda, and he is the proud father of four children.

Susan M. Cameron served as president and CEO, as well as executive and non-executive chair of the board of directors, of Reynolds American Inc. between 2004-2011 and 2013-2017. When RAI acquired Lorillard, Inc. for about $29 billion in 2015, it was reported to be the largest acquisition undertaken by a female CEO. In the period during which Cameron held leadership roles at RAI, the company’s total return to shareholders increased 1,335 percent, and the company’s stock price rose 627 percent. Cameron also serves as a non-executive director on the board of Tupperware Brands Corporation. Susan received a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Florida and a master’s degree in business administration from Bellarmine University. A brand marketer at heart, Cameron started her career in the tobacco industry in 1981 when she joined Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. Susan worked in a number of countries around the globe before returning to the U.S. in 1999 and being named CEO of Brown & Williamson in 2001. When Brown & Williamson’s U.S. business was merged with RAI’s R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company in 2004, Susan was named CEO of the new parent company, Reynolds American Inc. Since then; RAI has grown from a market capitalization of about $6 billion to its current valuation of more than $60 billion. Susan’s management philosophy is simple: in the consumer-goods industry, any company’s greatest assets are its brands and its people. Investing in both is the best way to ensure success. An avid advocate for women’s leadership, Susan frequently speaks to university and professional groups on leadership development. During her tenure as RAI’s CEO, she was recognized multiple times by publications including Forbes magazine, FORTUNE magazine and the Financial Times as one of the most powerful women in business. In 2016, FORTUNE magazine named Cameron as one of its top 50 businesspeople of the year, based both on RAI’s performance under her leadership as well as her record of taking “bold, visionary steps.” Susan is very active in community development activities and has served on the boards of two United Way organizations, the YWCA, Wake Forest University, Salem College, Experiment in Self Reliance, the Winston-Salem Alliance, and Old Salem. Since 2011, she has served on the board of trustees of her undergraduate alma mater, the University of Florida.

April Foster is the founder and CEO of Inked Brands, the leader in influencer commerce. In 2007, as a blogger and craft enthusiast, she originally founded Studio Calico where she built a subscription scrapbooking service that combined content with commerce. Studio Calico was named to the Inc5000 list 4 consecutive years as one of the fastest growing companies in America. Since then, April has been pioneering influencer commerce as the founder and CEO of Inked. She’s obsessed with combining relevant products, paid content, and smart marketing with influencer brands such as Studio DIY, The Bucket List Family, Meghan Rienks, and Ali Edwards. April lives in Kentucky with her husband, Greg, and four young children.

Russ Meinhardt joined OWS in 1993 and has held many positions over that time, including leadership roles in the manufacturing, operations, accounting, and information technology departments. Russ has also been involved in various aspects of the Company’s sales, marketing, and research and development departments. Russ has extensive experience in building and leading high performing teams. He has developed and cultivated a family style corporate culture. While working with executive board members to evaluate growth opportunities and develop strategies to achieve shareholder expectations. Russ holds a Bachelors in Business Administration from the University of Missouri and an MBA from Rockhurst University.

Chris Steffanci is President and CEO of Columbia Distributing in Seattle Washington, one of the nation’s largest beverage distributing companies. Chris has spent the last 20 years in the wine and beer industry where he has held senior leadership roles in sales, marketing and strategy. Chris began his career with Gallo Wine on the east coast but overtime decided his true passion was in the beer industry. He has since devoted the majority of his energy working for major global and domestic brewers such as Diageo-Guinness USA in various sales/marketing roles, at Heineken USA where he held several senior leadership roles and as COO of Pabst Brewing Company. Chris’ high energy and passionate leadership style have been the key drivers behind his successful career. In October 2007, at the age of 34, he was awarded New York’s 40 Under 40 award while he was the Senior VP of Sales for the US business at Heineken. Chris is also a member of the Pacific Northwest Young Presidents Organization. He has been featured in several Beverage Journals and participated in numerous speaking engagements within the industry. Chris is a graduate of Plymouth State University in New Hampshire with a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics.

Skyler Ditchfield is the Co-Founder and CEO of GeoLinks, the fastest growing WISP in America. Recognized as an industry innovator and thought-leader, Ditchfield is currently appointed to the BDAC’s Streamlining Federal Siting Working Group, the Schools Hospitals and Libraries Coalition’s (SHLB) Strategic Advisory and Fundraising Committees, and the FCC Advisory Board for Wireless Internet Service Providers Association (WISPA). With both a passion and dedication to closing the U.S. Digital Divide, Ditchfield is determined to bring connectivity to every unconnected Anchor Institution in America over the next 7 years. To accomplish this goal, Ditchfield actively looks to change the landscape of Internet across America by influencing the reform of broadband funding and spectrum policy on both a state and federal level. Believing that action fuels influence, Skyler led GeoLinks to successfully connect more schools than any other ISP in both 2016 and 2017 earning GeoLinks’ a variety of awards including CENIC’s “Corporate Partnership Award” and the Central Coasts’ “Most Disruptive Technology” Award. Within his company, Ditchfield is passionate about cultivating the best company culture around—one that combines respect, collaboration, and a “best idea wins mantra.” His dedication and work ethic have earned him various accolades in including “Top Innovator in Diversity and Inclusion”, “World’s Top 5 Best Businessmen of 2017”, and Camarillo’s 2018 “Entrepreneur of the Year”.

George Pontiakos is an Executive leadership professional with highly-effective expertise in growing businesses rapidly to successful market leadership or acquisition positions. George exhibits seasoned adeptness in establishing aggressive, entrepreneurial business cultures in geographically dispersed, globally competitive landscapes. His career has spanned the Fire Service (Lt. Eng 1 LFD), Electronic Warfare, Data Communications, Telecommunications, Optical Communications, Mergers and Acquisitions, Venture Capital and Health and Wellness sectors. George is the President and CEO of the Zuellig Group North America, which includes BI Nutraceuticals and Zuellig Group Properties, and Chairman of the Board for two of the Zuellig Groups, a $13 billion dollar Global Conglomerate, operations in China; Suzhou Bio-Products and ZGNI Shanghai Nutraceuticals, as well as a Group Director for ZGNI Hong Kong Holdings. Previously, he founded Monovasia Corporation, a consultancy focused on M&A transactions, venture capital, and counsel to technology start-ups. George was also the founder of MedEfficient Healthcare Solutions, a provider of Electronic Prescribing Software. George’s early senior leadership roles focused on communication (telecom and optical) technology markets and defense sensor and NOE deception/suppression applications.

Oscar Zapata is an avid entrepreneur and CEO of the SHOTS Brand of companies, including SHOTS Miami, SHOTS Orlando, SHOTS Labs, and SHOTS Franchising. Oscar has a background in the adult casino-style gaming hospitality segment and a deep love of marketing. Zapata has passion for brand building and franchising. Oscar obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Engineering, with an emphasis on Electrical Engineering, and his Master’s Degree in business administration, with an emphasis on Entrepreneurship, both from Florida International University. He has an 11-year-old daughter named Mia and a beautiful wife named Marcela. When not with his family, Oscar is growing the SHOTS brand.

Brent Erenwert has been in the produce industry for 20 years, with a strong focus on sales and purchasing. He’s grown through many roles at his family’s produce firm Brothers Produce. Starting in the warehouse as a child, he has risen to the current CEO. Brothers Produce has been in business for over 38 years and one of the most respected produce companies in the US. A serial entrepreneur, Brent has started and co-founded several ancillary organizations including Houston Cold Storage – a full-service cold storage operation, as well as Produce Universe Brands which he sold to Vance Publishing in 2015.

Scott Montgomery has over three decades in the bike and outdoor industries, most recently serving as CEO of Nutcase where he orchestrated a merger with Bravo Sports in 2016. He started his career working alongside his dad to build Cannondale, starting at the young age of eleven and coming on fulltime after completing college. Prior to that Scott was the Founder/GM of Scott Sports and CEO of Club Ride Apparel.