Lay of The Land

Dale Wollschleger is the Founder and former CEO of Cleveland-based ExactCare Pharmacy and the developer of the ExactPack™—a patient-specific medication packaging system designed to simplify complex medication regimens.This conversation with Dale dives into the unlikely journey of a pharmacist-turned-entrepreneur who started in the back of a small Cleveland pharmacy and built a billion-dollar organization serving patients across the country.ExactCare’s meteoric growth—from inception to a multi-hundred-million-dollar (revenue) business in under a decade—has earned it repeated recognition as an Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company; Dale himself was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year.Ultimately, Dale’s remarkable journey stems from an observation he made as a pharmacist: that pharmacists have the opportunity to play a more integral role in clinical care—and that their responsibility doesn’t end when the patient leaves the store. Many patients could live healthier, more independent lives if only they took the right medications at the right times.In our conversation, Dale shares how he navigated the many chapters of scaling a healthcare business: bringing in private equity and outside capital, evolving his leadership, and balancing high-growth expectations with a deep commitment to patient outcomes, company culture, family—and much more.00:00 - The Journey of a Pharmacist Turned Entrepreneur14:34 - Building ExactCare: Addressing Complex Patient Needs24:18 - The Evolution and Vision of ExactCare31:07 - Entrepreneurial Spirit in Pharmacy38:59 - Understanding the Pharmacy Industry43:24 - Pride in Building in Cleveland-----For more on The O.H.I.O. Fund: check out & subscribe to future content @ www.theohiofund.com-----LINKS:https://www.exactcarepharmacy.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-wollschleger/-----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/

Sanjay Singh is a thoughtful strategist, seasoned executive, and business philosopher whose journey to leading the iconic Cleveland brand Mace Security—and his reflections on it—are remarkable.Sanjay’s story weaves together a deep appreciation for manufacturing and a career shaped by curiosity, resilience, and a knack for doing hard things—ultimately culminating in a personal philosophy grounded in introspection and presence.From navigating activist shareholders during a turnaround at Mace to developing frameworks around fear, ego, inquiry, and deep intuition, Sanjay offers a unique lens into what it means to lead with vulnerability and intention.This conversation leans more philosophical than most Lay of The Land episodes—a reflection of Sanjay’s clarity of thought, deep presence, and his insights into consciousness and awareness. His perspective on leadership elevates the discussion far beyond the business realm, offering thoughtful takeaways for both work and life.Sanjay also serves on the boards of MAGNET—whose story was shared by Ethan Karp in Episode 139—and The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes. He’s married to Erin Singh, CEO of Options Naturopathic, who joined us on Episode 147 to share her own journey.Sanjay is a true student of the world, of people, and of business. It was a real joy for me to try to distill the many conversations we’ve had about his perspective into this one here today.00:00:00 - Sanjay's Unlikely Journey  00:11:40 - Frameworks for Success  00:19:18 - The Story of Mace  00:32:58 - Vulnerability as an Equalizer  00:39:10 - Turning Companies Around: Key Ingredients  00:47:16 - Balancing Intuition and Intellect  00:54:50 - Defining Success and Impact  01:01:30 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/sanjaysinghdrivingexcellence/https://www.mace.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/

Kelcey Lehrich is the Co-Founder and CEO of 365 Holdings, based in Akron, Ohio. 365 Holdings acquires and operates consumer products companies, with a focus on eCommerce and a goal of long-term ownership.In our conversation, Kelcey shares his path to entrepreneurship and his evolution from making his first acquisition to becoming a seasoned operator. He weaves in lessons from challenging ventures, unconventional acquisitions, and the earned wisdom of building durable businesses in the competitive world of e-commerce.We unpack how Kelcey thinks about demand creation versus demand capture, what it takes to build a resilient holding company, the tradeoffs between a centralized shared-services model and a decentralized structure, and how to create the best long-term home for brands. He also shares wisdom on what makes a company worth buying in the first place, lessons learned from organizing the HoldCo Conference — the un-conference of Micro Private Equity — here in Cleveland, and much more.Kelcey offers valuable insight for anyone exploring entrepreneurship through acquisition — or simply curious about how to thoughtfully scale something of quality over time. Please enjoy!00:00:00 - The Entrepreneurial Spirit Unlocked  00:05:32 - Navigating Early Entrepreneurial Ventures  00:08:28 - The Birth of 365 Holdings  00:11:18 - E-Commerce Evolution and Insights  00:14:36 - Acquisition Strategies and Lessons Learned  00:17:37 - Understanding Distressed M&A  00:20:13 - The Rise of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition  00:35:33 - Evolving Business Strategies  00:38:30 - Defining Success in Business  00:39:46 - Core Values and Company Culture  00:40:58 - Raising the Quality Bar  00:42:59 - The HoldCo Conference  00:45:20 - The Mindset of a HoldCo Entrepreneur  00:47:01 - Incentives and Profit Sharing  00:49:30 - Inspirations and Aspirations  00:50:16 - The Future of E-Commerce  00:52:12 - Opportunistic Acquisitions  00:53:19 - Building in Northeast Ohio  00:55:00 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://365-holdings.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelceylehrich/-----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/

TJ Dembinski is the co-founder and CEO of Eagle Electronics, dedicated to on-shoring America’s critical technology supply chain, starting with the IoT and automotive-grade cellular modules!This journey traces a fascinating arc — one that begins with the macro and geopolitical forces shaping global commerce and lands in a Northeast Ohio advanced micro-electronic manufacturing floor where Eagle Electronics is domestically building one of the most critical pieces of our digital infrastructure: the cellular module.TJ's story, and the founding of Eagle, is deeply embedded in these broader structural shifts — from the decoupling of U.S. global supply chains to the bipartisan momentum around domestic manufacturing and deindustrialization, to the evolving national security concerns that now govern the production of connected technologies.We also talk about the nuances of reshoring, what onshoring looks like in practice, what cellular modules are, and why Ohio — of all places — is emerging as the epicenter of America’s next industrial chapter. From partnerships to cutting-edge automation, from regulatory and security considerations to hard-earned insights about what it actually takes to build something physical at scale — TJ brings an insightful clarity to one of the most exciting, complex, and important entrepreneurial movements underway today and how Eagle Electronics is positioned to lead within it.00:00:00 - Reviving Domestic Manufacturing  00:05:09 - The Evolution of Eagle Electronics  00:08:11 - Understanding Cellular Modules and Their Importance  00:10:56 - Navigating Regulatory Challenges  00:14:02 - The Role of Trust and Security in Technology  00:16:53 - Building a Skilled Workforce in Ohio  00:20:00 - Funding and Capital Landscape in Ohio  00:23:04 - The Future of Onshoring and Manufacturing  00:26:02 - Lessons Learned as a Founder  00:29:04 - The Importance of Nuance in Global Supply Chains  00:37:00 - Requirements for Success00:46:50 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/tj-dembinski/https://www.eagleelectronics.com/https://theohiofund.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/

Ibrahim Mohmed is the founder of CourtSide Media Group and the co-founder & CEO of Taja AI. His entrepreneurial journey began right here in Ohio, where he launched CourtSide Media, a digital media agency that serves influencers with audiences ranging from 1 million to 75 million followers across various social platforms. Through CourtSide Media, Ibrahim has collaborated with high-profile clients including NBA legend Kevin Garnett, Cleveland’s FutureLAND annual conference, and prominent influencer Lauren Fitzmaurice—effectively amplifying their reach and impact through strategic, organic growth.Building on his success with CourtSide, Ibrahim co-founded Taja AI—a platform designed specifically to empower small businesses and content creators. TAJA AI automates content workflows by optimizing, repurposing, and scheduling content, significantly saving time for thousands of creators while maximizing their audience engagement and discoverability.Beyond his entrepreneurial ventures, Ibrahim is deeply committed to social impact through his organization, Nile Nights, which curates events to raise awareness and funds for individuals and communities affected by the ongoing conflict in Sudan.As a founder at the forefront of media and AI, Ibrahim offers powerful insight into where the space is headed and what it takes to succeed within it—please enjoy this fascinating conversation with Ibrahim Mohmed.00:00:00 - The Shift to Video Podcasting  00:04:06 - Understanding Taja AI  00:06:03 - The Entrepreneurial Journey Begins  00:08:14 - The Drive for Storytelling in Media  00:11:47 - The Power of Technological Leverage  00:13:22 - The Vision and Evolution of Taja AI  00:15:31 - User Experience and Product Functionality  00:17:36 - Building a Scalable Company with AI  00:20:35 - The Changing Landscape of Venture Capital  00:22:10 - Navigating Model Providers in AI  00:23:30 - Navigating Competition in the AI Landscape  00:26:26 - Understanding Vibe Coding and Its Impact  00:27:52 - Product Philosophy and Customer Engagement  00:29:41 - Common Mistakes Creators Make  00:32:34 - The Intersection of AI and Human Creativity  00:35:01 - Sustainable Business Models in Content Creation  00:36:42 - Personal Impact and Future Aspirations  00:37:48 - Embracing Adversity in Entrepreneurship  00:40:28 - Looking Ahead: Growth and Innovation  00:47:00 - Final Thoughts and Hidden Gems in Cleveland-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/ibrahim-mohmed-982076110/https://www.courtsidegroup.com/https://www.taja.ai/-----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/

Carey Jaros joined GOJO in 2014 as a board member, later taking on executive roles as Chief Strategy Officer—where she oversaw Marketing, Product Management, and Innovation—and as Chief Operating Officer, before becoming President and CEO in January 2020.Our conversation today covers Carey’s call to lead—shaped by a lifelong passion for solving problems and telling stories—her reflections on leadership and decision-making, GOJO’s extraordinary legacy, and its ongoing commitment to innovation. We discuss GOJO's origins, founded by Goldie and Jerry Lippman in 1946 to address the real human problem of safely cleaning workers' hands in Akron’s rubber factories. Carey shares how GOJO has evolved from those roots into a global leader in hygiene, skincare, and well-being, driven by an unwavering commitment to safety, efficacy, and sustainability.We also delve into the critical moments Carey faced stepping into her role at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the bold strategic investments GOJO made during this unprecedented time, and how the company balances legacy with innovation. Carey offers insights into the importance of culture, rigorous debate, and continuous learning as cornerstones of her leadership approach.As an operator, investor, and board member, Carey has worked with more than 50 organizations throughout her career. Prior to GOJO, she was President of Walnut Ridge Strategic Management Company and served as a Vice President at Dealer Tire, a large privately held tire distributor based in Cleveland. She spent the first 12 years of her career as a management consultant at Bain & Company.Today, Carey is a Board Director of Grocery Outlet, a publicly traded NASDAQ corporation, and an Advisory Board Member of Aunt Flow, a venture-backed menstrual products startup. She also serves on the Boards of The Cleveland Foundation, University Hospitals, and Laurel School.Carey is a fantastic storyteller, and this conversation is filled with insightful anecdotes and practical wisdom on business and entrepreneurship—so please enjoy!00:00:00 - Reflecting on Career Paths  00:06:51 - Journey to GOJO Industries  00:11:27 - Transitioning to Leadership  00:16:36 - Understanding GOJO's Origins  00:24:48 - Balancing Legacy and Innovation  00:28:27 - Leading Through the Pandemic  00:30:32 - Navigating Unprecedented Challenges  00:32:49 - Strategic Leadership in Crisis  00:35:27 - Investing for the Future  00:37:49 - The Power of Brand Promise  00:40:01 - Defining Success Through Purpose  00:42:55 - Personal Reflections on Success  00:45:15 - The Importance of Health and Wellbeing  00:47:11 - Common Sense in Hygiene Practices  00:49:05 - Legacy and Impact of GOJO  00:51:45 - Community and Identity in Northeast Ohio  00:55:22 - Fostering Productive Debate  00:58:50 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.gojo.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/careyjaros/-----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/

Today, we’re picking up with the second part of my conversation with Jodi Berg, the former President & CEO of Vitamix.In Part 1, we explored Jodi’s career, the history, evolution, and family legacy of Vitamix, and her leadership journey in growing the company into the global brand it is today.In Part 2, we continue with her reflections on stepping away from the business—and dive deeper into her philosophy of purpose, the DANCE framework she’s developing to help others lead more intentional lives, and the wisdom she’s distilled from decades of research, teaching, and hands-on leadership and entrepreneurial experience.It’s a wide-ranging, deeply thoughtful conversation about what it means to live and lead with purpose—not to mention, a lot of fun. I’m so excited to share it with you.00:00:00 - Reflecting on Leadership and Culture  00:04:25 - Succession Planning in Family Businesses  00:06:56 - Navigating Leadership Transitions  00:13:44 - The Importance of Purpose  00:15:18 - Personal Experiences Shaping Purpose  00:19:34 - Helping Others Find Their Wings  00:26:33 - The Dual Nature of Purpose  00:35:23 - Impact of Personal Purpose on Company Culture  00:41:26 - The Impact of Personal Purpose  00:46:51 - Understanding and Helping Others  00:47:27 - Writing a Purpose-Driven Book  00:48:39 - The DANCE Framework for Decision-Making  00:56:20 - The Importance of Purpose in Decision-Making  01:02:42 - Discovering Superpowers and Purpose  01:03:26 - Innovating the Blender: A New Approach  01:10:05 - Technology and Purpose in Business  01:14:53 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodilberg/https://www.vitamix.com/us/en_us/Original Vitamix Infomercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5IzzGPzQA-----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/

Jodi Berg, PhD recently retired as the fourth-generation President and CEO of Vitamix, having joined the family business in 1997 with the directive to lead the company’s overseas expansion, later serving as director of international, household and commercial divisions, and then ultimately as Executive Vice President in 2007, President in 2009, and CEO in 2011.Under her leadership, Jodi built on the 100+ year history and legacy of her family’s business, — founded in 1921 and headquartered in Olmsted Township in the greater Cleveland area — to grow the iconic and beloved brand to what it is today, with expanded distribution to over 130 countries and over 400% organic growth during her tenure.As many are familiar with — Vitamix manufactures high-performance blending equipment for home and commercial use, with millions of consumers around the world who use Vitamix products to help achieve their personal health and culinary goals. The company’s commercial customer list reads like a “Who’s Who” of major restaurant chains, and gourmet chefs regard their Vitamix machines in the same light and improtance as they regards their knives.The company has an incredible history of innovation and invention and developed the first true commercial blender in the early 1990s, which ignited the smoothie movement, and has been named the Best-in-Class Overall beverage blender for decades by readers of Foodservice Equipment & Supplies magazine.As you’ll hear in our conversation, Jodi developed a highly intentional approach to leadership — centered on purpose and employee engagement — which she formalized, researched and earned a PhD in management from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management and ultimatley leveraged to transform the organizational structure of Vitamix and its corporate vision, mission and culture.This was such a fun and unforgettable conversation — we actually got into such depth and breadth here that I’m breaking the episode into two parts that will cover Vitamix and Leadership across growing up in the family business and the familial lessons passed on, the evolution of Vitamix over the generations and the corresponding ingredients required order to thrive for over a century, balancing family legacy with innovation, lessons learned in hospitality and working at The Ritz Carlton, many personal stories and historical anecdotes about Vitamix that shaped her understanding of purpose and how it drives engagement and fulfillment in both personal and professional contexts, synthesizing her earned leadership wisdom into her upcoming book, why Vitamix is headquartered in Cleveland, helping people find their superpowers and a whole lot more… Jodi is an incredibly thoughtful teacher and operator and this really felt like a master class in all things business, leadership, and purpose. 00:00:00 - Introduction and Background  00:04:56 - Journey to Vitamix: A Family Legacy  00:19:23 - The Ritz-Carlton Experience and Lessons Learned  00:24:57 - Returning to Vitamix: Merging Passions and Purpose  00:25:27 - Family Legacy and Personal Growth  00:30:05 - The Evolution of Vitamix  00:36:43 - Balancing Legacy with Strategic Growth  00:42:53 - Changing Perspectives on Food and Health  00:51:00 - Creating a Community Around Food  00:58:02 - The Impact of Authentic Marketing-----LINKS:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jodilberg/https://www.vitamix.com/us/en_us/Original Vitamix Infomercial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rm5IzzGPzQA-----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/

Max Pennington is the Co-Founder & CEO of CLEANR, an innovative company that uses filters to prevent microplastics from entering water streams. Max graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Chemical Engineering from Case Western Reserve University, where he co-developed CLEANR’s innovative VORTX filtration technologyb. Inspired by nature, VORTX biomimcry is capable of removing over 90% of microplastics from washing machine wastewater. Microplastics pollution is a severe and growing environmental crisis, with trillions of tiny plastic particles contaminating ecosystems worldwide, affecting marine life, human health, and the overall environmental balance. Under Max's leadership, CLEANR has garnered significant recognition, including the American Filtration and Separation Society’s New Product of the Year Award for 2024, and has raised approximately $7 million in funding, positioning it at the forefront of the fight against microplastics pollutionWith washing machines identified as the #1 source of microplastic pollution, CLEANR’s biomimicry filtration solutions are not only essential but increasingly requisite. The company is actively partnering with major universities and sustainability organizations, implementing their retrofit filters at campuses nationwide and is collaborating closely with leading global washing machine manufacturers to integrate VORTX directly into new appliances, aiming to make sustainability an effortless choice for consumers.I came away from this conversation inspired as Max exudes passion for solving this problem and has been incredibly impressive organize to that end. Please enjoy this awesome conversation with Max Pennington00:00:00 - The Invisible Crisis of Microplastics  00:08:51 - The ThinkBox: A Hub for Innovation  00:15:14 - Engineering Solutions: The Vortex Filter  00:22:52 - Cleaner: A Filtration Technology Company  00:29:43 - Navigating Market Strategies and Regulations  00:36:16 - Understanding the Challenge of Selling Solutions  00:38:55 - Fundraising and Vision for Cleaner  00:42:17 - Iterative Design and Prototyping Process  00:45:55 - Differentiation and Competitive Strategy  00:48:20 - Excitement for Market Launch and Consumer Impact  00:51:28 - Leadership Lessons from the Entrepreneurial Journey  00:54:45 - Overcoming Challenges in Product Development  00:58:03 - Radical Ideas for Addressing Microplastic Pollution  01:02:25 - Cleveland's Role in the Fight Against Microplastics  01:03:55 - Hidden Gem-----LINKS:https://www.cleanr.life/https://www.linkedin.com/in/max-t-pennington/-----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/

I’m very excited to welcome Umberto Fedeli back for his third conversation. In our first two conversations — episode 135 and episode 171 — we explored Umberto’s remarkable life journey, deep-rooted wisdom, and how he's mastered the craft of building authentic relationships and connecting people across business, politics, and philanthropy. Those episodes are timeless and packed with valuable insights — I highly recommend listening to them to set the stage for today’s discussion.In this episode, we delve deeper into these foundational ideas, unpacking the origins of Umberto’s relentless commitment to relationships, mentorship, and personal growth. We explore how to navigate the delicate balance between patience and persistence, between progress and perfection, and ultimately, how to cultivate resilience and rationality during times of uncertainty. We also dive into Umberto's perspective on the current state of the world — from economics and politics to tariffs. We talk about volatility, the fundamental human need for love and connection, regrets, legacy, and much more.Please enjoy this insightful, continued discussion with Umberto Fedeli.On a technical note, due to unexpected issues with our recording equipment at the time of this session, portions of the episode were lost. These segments have been audibly enhanced using speech technology in an effort to restore clarity and continuity. We appreciate your understanding regarding any subtle auditory or phonetic inconsistencies.-----LINKS:https://www.thefedeligroup.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/