Lay of The Land

Nearly a year and a half after our conversation first aired in 2024, Lost & Found in Cleveland is ready to make its way to theaters nationwide on November 7, 2025.When I first sat down with Keith Gerchak and Marisa Guterman, the creative forces behind the film, we explored the decade-long journey that brought this story to life—from writing and directing this cinematic love letter to Cleveland, to raising capital, recruiting a star-studded cast featuring Martin Sheen, Dennis Haysbert, June Squibb, Stacy Keach, and many others, and filming across Cleveland’s iconic landscapes.With the film’s theatrical debut now just around the corner, this feels like the perfect moment to revisit their remarkable story.So, with that exciting update, please enjoy this encore conversation from the Lay of The Land archives with Keith Gerchak and Marisa Guterman, the filmmakers behind Lost & Found in Cleveland, airing in theaters across Cleveland starting November 7, 2025.Tickets are now on sale at https://tickets.lostandfoundincleveland.com/! More theaters are being added daily. 00:00:00 - The American Dream in Cleveland 00:05:56 - The Journey of Filmmaking 00:19:10 - Character Development and Storytelling 00:32:39 - Challenges and Triumphs in Production 00:42:44 - The Journey of Filmmaking: Vision and Execution 00:44:44 - Challenges of Fundraising in Cleveland 00:46:31 - The Economic Impact of Local Filmmaking 00:49:15 - Building a Sustainable Film Industry in Cleveland 00:51:33 - Changing the Narrative: Cleveland's Film Identity 00:54:53 - Casting Challenges and Triumphs 01:01:38 - Overcoming On-Set Challenges 01:09:21 - The Message of Hope in Film-----LINKS:Lost & Found in Cleveland IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4601732/Connect with Keith Gerchak: https://www.linkedin.com/in/keithgerchak/Connect with Marisa Guterman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisa-guterman-187677a9/Double G Films: https://www.doublegfilms.com/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Nearly a year and a half after our conversation first aired, Aaron Slodov and Atomic Industries have reached an important milestone worth celebrating. Atomic recently announced the close of its $25 million Series A, led by MaC Venture Capital and DTX Ventures, with participation from Narya and others, to accelerate the rollout of its AI-driven manufacturing platform.With this funding, Atomic is expanding its software-defined factory footprint and advancing the AI systems at the heart of its vision—one that has already moved from pilot to production, shipping parts to some of the world’s most demanding OEMs. At its core, Atomic is working to strengthen America’s industrial base by making the manufacturing of physical goods more localized, resilient, and technology-enabled.This felt like the perfect moment to revisit my conversation with Aaron, where we unpack his techno-industrialist philosophy, the deep history of Ohio manufacturing, and why the future of physical production matters so much for our country.So, with that timely update, please enjoy this timeless conversation from the Lay of The Land archives with Aaron Slodov, CEO of Atomic Industries.00:00:00 – The Rise of Techno-Industrialism00:05:56 – The Journey from Bits to Atoms00:10:41 – The Challenges of Manufacturing00:15:47 – Reindustrialization and the Post-Industrial Myth00:20:48 – Atomic Industries: Innovating Manufacturing00:25:42 – Exascaling the Industrial Base00:30:49 – The Future of Manufacturing Talent00:40:46 – The Shift in Manufacturing Careers00:42:50 – Incentivizing the Return to Manufacturing00:44:58 – Cultural Integration of Tech and Manufacturing00:50:38 – Defining Success in Modern Manufacturing00:52:03 – The Importance of a Techno-Industrial Framework00:56:12 – Policy and the Future of Manufacturing01:02:33 – The Potential of Reindustrialization01:05:57 – Storytelling as a Tool for Founders-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/abslodov/https://twitter.com/aphysicisthttps://www.atomic.industries/https://www.piratewires.com/p/techno-industrialist-manifestohttps://twitter.com/newindustrials-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Ralph Lazaro, Co-founder and CEO of INaudio, has over two decades in the audiobook industry, transforming Findaway into a digital powerhouse before launching INaudio as a spinout from Spotify. He discusses his bold move to Cleveland, the Spotify acquisition journey, and the dynamic evolution of the audiobook market amidst new competitors and AI influences. Ralph shares insights on building a strong company culture remotely, prioritizing psychological safety, and his vision for the future of audiobooks. Plus, he offers advice on career development and recommends Cleveland's hidden natural gems.

Terry Coyne is an Executive Vice Chairman of Newmark and Principal of Terry Coyne Properties. Over his 25-plus-year career, Terry has become one of Ohio’s most accomplished commercial real estate leaders, negotiating more than 2,000 transactions totaling over $5 billion in value. In Cleveland alone, over the past five years, he and his team have brokered 250 transactions worth more than $1.2 billion.In our conversation, we cover Terry’s unique philosophy and strategy on real estate, risk, and patience — which have led him to a diverse range of opportunities, from representing companies like GOJO and L’Oréal, to redeveloping the old Chrysler Plant, building the MidTown Tech Park in Cleveland, and now leading the 670+ acre site at Rickenbacker adjacent to Anduril’s new Arsenal 1 Hyperscale Manufacturing Facility.We also break down Terry’s views on Ohio’s regional markets, what he’s learned from his father, the intersection of real estate and entrepreneurship, and his perspective on the future of the state’s economy — from data centers and energy policy to the cultural ambition needed for Ohio to continue its rise.00:00:00 - Introduction to Terry Coyne and His Career00:25:48 - Exploring Ohio's Unique Markets00:30:38 - Land vs. Real Estate: Understanding Value00:37:16 - The Future of Work: Remote vs. In-Office00:42:59 - Taxation and Its Impact on Real Estate00:49:48 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrycoyne/https://terrycoyne.com/terry-coyne-properties/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Jeff Berlin is the Founder and President of Bridge Industries & Chairman and CEO of TransTech Energy. Jeff’s journey spans from his early days at Parker Hannifin to helping grow Hawk Corporation from a $20 million single-plant business into a $200 million global operation, and ultimately to founding his own company, Bridge — an industrial holding company anchored by TransTech — that has quietly scaled into a multi-hundred-million-dollar enterprise based in Chagrin Falls.In our conversation, we cover Jeff’s conviction in the importance of American manufacturing and how it shaped his career-long commitment to building enduring businesses; the creation of Bridge Industries and his intentional choice of a permanent holding-company model over traditional private equity; the more than 25-fold scaling of TransTech into a diversified industrial platform with over 700 employees, up from just 35 a decade earlier; and the lessons learned along the way — the resilience and philosophy that guide him, how to weather downturns, usefulness as a true measure of value and success, culture across companies, and much more.00:00:00 - The Roots of American Manufacturing Belief 00:07:35 - Formative Experiences in Leadership 00:09:00 - Transformational Growth at Hawk 00:11:55 - Resilience in Business 00:13:10 - The Birth of Bridge 00:14:14 - Understanding Industrial Holding Companies 00:16:25 - Differentiation from Traditional Private Equity 00:19:00 - The Journey of Bridge 00:20:47 - Strategic Growth and Acquisitions 00:27:31 - Managing Geographic Expansion 00:30:01 - Introducing TransTech 00:31:28 - Building Infrastructure for Energy Solutions 00:35:59 - Strategic Growth and Acquisition Insights 00:38:10 - The Importance of Vertical Integration 00:42:51 - Cultural Dynamics in Business Integration 00:43:43 - The State of American Manufacturing 00:46:30 - Defining Success and Value Creation 00:48:10 - Future Ambitions for Bridge and TransTech 00:49:40 - Mentorship and Leadership Evolution 00:51:22 - Understanding the Nature of Industrial Work 00:54:40 - The Role of Infrastructure in Daily Life 00:55:56 - Excitement for Future Challenges 00:58:07 - Investing in Financial and IT Infrastructure 00:59:52 - Automation and Its Implications 01:01:53 - Guiding Wisdom and Philosophy 01:02:51 - Renewable Natural Gas and Environmental Impact 01:05:51 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-berlin-9b156a12/https://bridgeind.com/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

On this special episode of Lay of the Land, I’m joined—for the first time—by the two co-founders of The O.H.I.O. Fund, Mark Kvamme and Ray Leach, as well as the fund’s two founding partners, Jill Meyer and Mike Venerable, to share the inside story of how a bold idea became reality.We explore the inspiration and origins behind a first-of-its-kind strategy designed to generate returns while accelerating prosperity and shaping Ohio’s future. We discuss how, in our first year, we closed on over $230 million in capital from investors and deployed more than $130 million into 19 sector-diverse investments across Ohio’s economy. We also cover what it has taken to build momentum, forge the most powerful network of investors, founders, and operators across the state, and why Ohio’s moment is now—along with the urgency this opportunity demands.———For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out www.theohiofund.com———00:00:00 - The Birth of the Ohio Fund 00:04:08 - Ohio's Economic Landscape and Historical Context 00:07:06 - The Vision Behind the Ohio Fund 00:09:59 - Building a Collaborative Network 00:13:11 - The Urgency of Now: Why Timing Matters 00:15:53 - Capitalizing on Opportunities in Ohio 00:19:17 - The Role of AI and Innovation 00:22:05 - Success Stories and Impact Investments 00:25:08 - Creating a Unified Ohio 00:27:50 - The Future of the Ohio Fund 00:30:55 - Personal Motivations and Collective Ambition 00:35:10 - Reflecting on Progress and Future Aspirations 00:40:16 - Surprises and Insights from the Ohio Fund's First Year 00:51:07 - Looking Ahead: Opportunities and Growth in Ohio 00:55:06 - Embracing Change and Building a New Future-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Jim McCarthy Jr. is a filmmaker and the director of the new documentary Mr. Football, and David Conwill is the Executive Vice Chairman and former CEO of Redwood Living as well as an executive producer of the film.Dave’s career spans two decades of building Redwood Living into a national leader in single-story rental neighborhoods—scaling from a handful of units in Northeast Ohio to more than 20,000 homes and multi-billion dollars’ worth of developments across nearly a dozen states. Alongside his work in real estate, Dave has recently ventured into storytelling, teaming up with Jimmy to bring Mr. Football to life.Jimmy’s journey is deeply personal. As a member of Benedictine High School’s 2004 state championship football team, he lived through the triumphs and tragedies that Mr. Football explores. The film captures the roller-coaster highs of playing in three consecutive championship games, the enduring spirit of the school, and the lows of Lorenzo Hunter’s murder and a tragic night that changed many lives. The title itself comes from the “Mr. Football” award, Ohio’s high school version of the Heisman Trophy.Two decades later, Jimmy has turned that experience into a screenplay and ultimately into a powerful documentary, working alongside co-director Sean Rech, CEO of Cleveland’s Transition Studios, as well as Ryan Kelly, partner at Substance and a producer on Mr. Football—both of whom have also shared their stories on Lay of The Land (episodes 85 and 221, respectively).In our conversation, we talk about Jimmy’s inspiration and the process of making Mr. Football a reality, including the cathartic experience of revisiting Benedictine’s championship run and its aftermath. We also explore Dave’s entrepreneurial journey building Redwood Living and the lessons learned from scaling it into billions of dollars’ worth of development. We discuss the creative process of bringing a film to life, the parallels between entrepreneurship and filmmaking, and what Jimmy and Dave each think about success, impact, and the future of Mr. Football.Dave and Jimmy’s collaboration bridges business and powerful storytelling in a way that is uniquely Cleveland, and I’m grateful to share this conversation with you today.00:00:00 - The Heart of Benedictine Football00:09:35 - The Journey of Telling a Story00:17:08 - From Real Estate to Film00:17:59 - The Process of Creating a Film00:22:15 - Healing Through Storytelling00:26:36 - Messages and Takeaways from the Film00:29:54 - Challenges in Documentary Filmmaking00:33:40 - Building from Scratch: The Documentary Process00:35:02 - Pivots and Perspectives: The Evolution of the Script00:39:50 - A Cleveland Story: Local Roots and Universal Themes00:42:06 - The Release Journey: Reactions and Reflections00:44:40 - Looking Ahead: Future Projects and Aspirations00:50:46 - Lessons Learned: Overcoming Doubts and Challenges00:52:44 - Honoring Legacy: Memorials and Scholarships00:55:56 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-conwill-b099434/https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/mr-football/umc.cmc.4bj5i7tx1hef4shqkmk16asw0https://www.primevideo.com/detail/Mr-Football/0U57SLRHOHWDVTTCP6XMQ56SRZ-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Ivy Zelman is one of the most respected voices in American housing, co-founder of Zelman & Associates, and now Executive Vice President at Walker & Dunlop, which acquired her firm in 2021 as the leading institutional research, advisory, and investment banking firm dedicated exclusively to the U.S. housing industry.Over the last three decades, Ivy has built a reputation for bold, contrarian analysis—famously calling the top of the housing market in 2005 and the bottom in 2012—moments that cemented her as a rare analyst unafraid to speak truth to consensus. That conviction has earned her numerous accolades, including recognition in Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance for four consecutive years and induction into the California Homebuilding Foundation’s Hall of Fame.In our conversation, we trace Ivy’s journey from falling into equity research to taking the entrepreneurial leap in 2007, founding Zelman & Associates amid the looming financial crisis. We explore her approach to research and analysis—blending proprietary surveys with a nationwide network of builders, brokers, and lenders—to consistently separate signal from noise.We reflect on her evolution as a leader and entrepreneur, the culture she has cultivated with a team that has stayed by her side for decades, her love of Cleveland, and what it means to pay it forward today through teaching and mentorship as an Adjunct Professor of Finance at Case Western Reserve University, her memoir Gimme Shelter, and much more.00:00:00 - Catalytic Moments in Finance00:08:25 - Recognizing Blind Spots in Research00:11:27 - The Entrepreneurial Inclination00:11:55 - Building Conviction and Confidence00:15:54 - Vision for Success00:17:21 - Detective Work in Research00:18:45 - Cultivating a Strong Network00:22:20 - The Importance of Asking the Right Questions00:25:13 - Reconciliation with Reality00:26:35 - Navigating Market Sentiment00:28:13 - The Evolution of Zellman Associates00:30:38 - Personal Growth as an Entrepreneur00:34:06 - Leadership and Team Development00:36:01 - Maintaining Intellectual Honesty Post-Acquisition00:37:39 - Understanding the Value of Research00:39:15 - Cleveland's Unique Perspective00:42:10 - Paying It Forward and Mentorship00:45:38 - Lessons for the Next Generation00:47:23 - Contrarian Views on Market Trends00:49:17 - Balancing Work and Family Life00:51:20 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ivy-zelman-64304616b/https://www.zelmanassociates.com/https://www.amazon.com/Gimme-Shelter-Skills-Street-Trailblazer/dp/1737709929-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Ryan Kelly is a filmmaker, entrepreneur, and partner of Substance, a film and television production company based in Cleveland.What if Northeast Ohio had the infrastructure to support large-scale film productions? That question first took root when Ryan found himself on the set of Cherry—a feature film shot in Cleveland by the Russo Brothers, the acclaimed Cleveland-born directors behind Avengers and Captain America—soaking in the experience of working alongside Hollywood heavyweights in his hometown.What followed was Ryan’s relentless pursuit of that vision and his work to build up Northeast Ohio’s film industry.Before founding Substance, Ryan co-founded TRG Sound & Vision alongside industry veterans Adam Wilde and Geoff Yaw. TRG boasts one of the largest sound stages in the Midwest: 160,000 square feet of studio space, a Virtual Production Wall, a 40' by 60' cyclorama wall, and 40 semi-permanent sets staffed by skilled industry professionals to meet the demands of large productions.As a filmmaker, Ryan is the director and producer of the docuseries WrestleHer, which tells the story behind sanctioning high school girls’ wrestling in Ohio and the generation of athletes growing the sport.Ryan’s journey is a powerful blend of artistic conviction and entrepreneurial grit. In our conversation, we explore how he carved a path into the film industry from scratch as a touring musician and drummer, what he learned from working alongside others in the industry—like Transition Studios, whose story was shared by Shawn Rech in Episode 85 of Lay of The Land—and how he approaches creative risk, storytelling, and making Cleveland a true contender on the national production map.00:00:00 - From Punk Rock to Filmmaking: A Journey of Artistry00:08:08 - Navigating the Filmmaking Landscape: Players and Perspectives00:13:16 - The Evolution of TRG: A Hub for Creative Production00:21:11 - The Artist-Entrepreneur Duality: Balancing Creativity and Business00:28:19 - Cleveland's Potential: A Production Hub in the Making00:33:35 - The Birth of Substance: A New Identity00:40:51 - The Multifaceted Role of a Filmmaker00:47:36 - Inspiring Projects and Personal Connections00:55:00 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjk216/https://www.thisissubstance.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rjk216/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/

Andrew Hurst is the founder and CEO of Delivered, a fast-scaling logistics platform revolutionizing parcel shipping with faster, more reliable deliveries at lower costs.He also serves as CEO of Ark Transportation, where he led a fivefold revenue increase in just five years, and is the founder of Veroot, a compliance platform now trusted by thousands of logistics teams nationwide.Under his leadership, and across all three companies, Andrew is bringing an entrepreneurial lens to the freight industry he grew up in—challenging the status quo, disrupting legacy giants, and redefining how parcel shippers move goods across the country.This was a ton of fun. First off, we set up shop right on the warehouse floor where Andrew has built all three of these companies. The industrial-scale freight equipment and thousands of parcels and packages provided an incredible backdrop for the conversation—one that reflects Andrew’s life’s work, calling, and ambition to transform an entire industry. For those who’d prefer to see it, I encourage you to watch our conversation on YouTube.We talk about the advantages and pride of building in Cleveland, how he’s raising a family of 11 children while scaling all three companies, what it’s like competing against Goliaths like FedEx and UPS, and what he believes the future of logistics will look like. Andrew’s clarity of thought, humility, and commitment to creating enduring impact are inspiring—it’s not surprising he’s been recognized with the Vistage Excellence in Leadership Award and named a Smart Business Dealmaker of the Year in 2023.-----LINKS:https://shipdelivered.com/en/https://www.linkedin.com/in/hurstandrew/-----SPONSOR:Roundstone InsuranceRoundstone Insurance is proud to sponsor Lay of The Land. Founder and CEO, Michael Schroeder, has committed full-year support for the podcast, recognizing its alignment with the company’s passion for entrepreneurship, innovation, and community leadership.Headquartered in Rocky River, Ohio, Roundstone was founded in 2005 with a vision to deliver better healthcare outcomes at a more affordable cost. To bring that vision to life, the company pioneered the group medical captive model — a self-funded health insurance solution that provides small and mid-sized businesses with greater control and significant savings.Over the past two decades, Roundstone has grown rapidly, creating nearly 200 jobs in Northeast Ohio. The company works closely with employers and benefits advisors to navigate the complexities of commercial health insurance and build custom plans that prioritize employee well-being over shareholder returns. By focusing on aligned incentives and better health outcomes, Roundstone is helping businesses save thousands in Per Employee Per Year healthcare costs.Roundstone Insurance — Built for entrepreneurs. Backed by innovation. Committed to Cleveland.-----Stay up to date by signing up for Lay of The Land's weekly newsletter — sign up here.Past guests include Justin Bibb (Mayor of Cleveland), Pat Conway (Great Lakes Brewing), Steve Potash (OverDrive), Umberto P. Fedeli (The Fedeli Group), Lila Mills (Signal Cleveland), Stewart Kohl (The Riverside Company), Mitch Kroll (Findaway — Acquired by Spotify), and over 200 other Cleveland Entrepreneurs.Connect with Jeffrey Stern on LinkedIn — https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffreypstern/Follow Lay of The Land on X @podlayofthelandhttps://www.jeffreys.page/