MEET THE WINNERS

When shifting policy upended the solar industry, Landon Cason didn’t hold onto the company he’d built. He rebuilt it. As CEO of Green Wave Solar, the Nashville renewable energy leader founded Lotus Energy Investments to develop and own solar assets across the Southeast, landing a 10 MW project and being named TVA’s Quality Contractor of the Year out of 450 competitors along the way.

Kathleen Maxwell is the third-generation CEO and first female majority owner of Maxwell Roofing and Sheet Metal, her family’s 70-year-old Nashville roofing contractor whose crews have worked on landmarks including the Frist Art Museum and the airport’s Concourse D. Since stepping in as CEO in 2021, amid COVID-driven material shortages and extreme inflation, she’s guided the company to about 5% average annual revenue growth.

Stansell Electric’s WHY is about growing people, serving customers and building community. Last year, Stansell launched ownership transition via an Employee Stock Ownership Plan. We are not just creating owners of stock; we are fostering ownership mindset and buy-in. Our philosophy is that 100% engagement yields maximum success for both employees and company.

An attorney by trade, Joe Lenart had to learn an entirely new skill set to become the visionary his growing firm needed as founding partner of Kennedy Lenart IP, a San Diego IP law firm. Over the past two years, he’s promoted a COO, hired a fractional finance team, and restructured ownership around one direction. The firm has grown to 26 employees, and after integrating AI, average attorney production is roughly 1.7 times what it was.

After nearly three decades at Discflo Pumps, Xochitl Ruiz helped lead the San Diego-based manufacturer through a difficult chapter, rebuilding it around trust and transparency. Since 2020, she has more than doubled the business and expanded into the Middle East and Mexico. Discflo now serves 5000+ customers worldwide, including Anheuser-Busch, Coca-Cola and the US Army Corps of Engineers, Chevron, AKER BP, Exxon Mobile.

Jeremy Moore has built his career guiding businesses through pivotal moments, including the sale of three companies. He co-led an acquisition at MagnaFlow, grew EV $80M at Jon Renau and most recently rebuilt SCRAM Companies culminating in its 2025 sale. What he finds most fulfilling is helping others create their own success, a commitment that also drives his work with the Dream Center, a rehabilitation center in Oceanside.

Since buying their family’s construction business in 2021, Andrew Grunloh and his brother have grown Grunloh Building from $4M to $45M in revenue and expanded the team from three non-family employees to 26. By investing in employee development and expanding beyond central Illinois, they’ve brought in over $100M in new business since the start of 2026, with their sights set on becoming one of the nation’s Top 400 contractors by 2030.

Amy Shaw has led Nine PBS through one of the most challenging periods in its history. As public media lost federal funding, she guided the station without layoffs or salary cuts, backed by strong operating revenue and a capital campaign to renovate their headquarters. The first woman to lead Nine PBS in its history, Amy sits on national boards shaping the future of public media.

Since becoming a partner, Eric Casciaro has helped Quantum Solutions grow tenfold, recently reaching a $15M peak. An engineer at heart, he stepped into the CEO role during a period of decline, accepting accountability for the company’s next chapter. Today, Quantum remains rooted in customer partnerships, lasting careers, and shared ownership among 10 partners averaging 16 years of tenure.

The only resume Rob Johnes ever submitted led to an internship at Helmkamp Construction in 1997. Fifteen years later, he bought the company and grew revenue from $25M to $125M while tripling net profit percentage. In 2025, he sold the business to his leadership team, financing the deal himself and securing the largest project in company history to give them a strong foundation for the future.

After leaving the mortgage industry, Isaac Alexander acquired his father-in-law’s Charlotte IT company, Quo Vadis IT, in 2023 with no business or IT experience. By staying curious and prioritizing a customer service mindset, he’s helped grow revenue from nearly $1.9M to a projected $3M, with 9% of profits donated to local charities in 2025. Quo Vadis IT also made the 2026 Inc. 5000 list and won 2025’s Charlotte’s Best IT Provider award.

Tony Griffin and his brother Scott started Griffin Masonry in 1990 with $500 and the proceeds from the sale of a coon dog . Today, Trowel Craft Group includes 10 companies, over 650 employees and operations across 13 states. They built Trowel Craft Group to unite the companies under one umbrella, creating opportunities for employees to grow and they are now developing nearly 50 rising leaders through Trowel Craft’s Horizon program.

Over the past two decades, Roddey Player has transformed Queen City Homestore into one of the Carolinas’ leading home retailers. Through strategic growth, a commitment to people, and an unwavering focus on customers, he has expanded the business, created jobs, and positioned the company for its next chapter as it approaches its 75th anniversary.

When Natalie Standridge couldn’t find a childcare program in the Twin Cities that aligned with her values for her firstborn daughter, she started her own. What began with her watching a few children in her home in 2002 has grown into Casa de Corazón, now 11 day-care centers serving over 1,000 children system wide. Through franchising, she’s grown the business while creating a curriculum built around social, environmental, and health priorities.

Dr. Meridee Rilen founded Affinity Psychological Services in 2018, building it from $318,000 in revenue to $13.5 million in 2026. Central to that growth is Affinity’s “anti-burnout” model, which gives clinicians the autonomy of private practice with the benefits and support of employment. Affinity now has 9 locations, serves 3,000 clients monthly, and champions clinician growth and sustainability.

Matt Hohmann’s upbringing on a small beef farm in Southeastern Minnesota sparked the work ethic and ambition that still shapes his leadership today. He joined Anchor Distributing in 2005, when the company had 8 employees and $4M in revenue. He was later named CEO in 2008 and purchased the business in 2015. Today, Anchor has grown to more than $40M in revenue and roughly 40 employees, serving major customers such as Amazon.

Deb Erickson built The Line Up into a 65-person $10M company manufacturing custom dance and skating apparel entirely in the U.S. In 2024, she sold the business to a fellow Vistage member, who spent a year inside the company before the deal closed. Now retired from day-to-day operations, Deb is excited to see new ownership build on her legacy and lead its next chapter.

Former baker turned CEO, Savannah Chambers Turley is the third generation leading her family’s wine company. Within three months, she navigated tariffs and a major competitor’s abrupt exit, resisting a flood of new business to protect long-standing partnerships. Now pursuing $100 million within the decade, she scales with discipline, preserving the values that define Chambers & Chambers.

Laura Walsh joined Ingenio, a digital marketplace connecting consumers with trusted spiritual advisors, in 2015 and rose to COO, fueling growth that drove a 17x return for investors. She was then tapped to lead another digital marketplace, Lumens, where she oversaw a sale and grew revenue over 40% in her tenure. Today, she’s back at Ingenio as CEO, leading its growth in spiritual wellness.

A degree in French literature may seem like an unlikely credential for a CEO, but for Susan Davis, it was the start of a remarkable career at Donsuemor. After joining as a part-time baker in 1987, she became CEO and grew the company from a million in revenue to more than $60 million, earning customers including Costco, Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee. She also led the company’s acquisition by St Michelle, positioning them for long-term growth.

Wayne Huie became the first CEO outside Young Electric + Communications’ founding family, helping with the growth of the San Francisco contractor from $15M to over $60M in revenue while going from 2.5% equity to full ownership.
The philosophy of the company has always been people over profit. They did not lay off any employees, even paying their team first before being paid, during the Great Recession. With his 2027 exit ahead, he’s now preparing for his successor and will move into an advisory board role.

In 2020, Walter (Mitch) Mitchell was CTO of a freight company when COVID stalled the industry. Seeing an opportunity, a PE firm spun off the tech division Mitch was leading and made him CEO of what became Tai Software. Six years later, Tai has grown roughly tenfold without outside funding and maintained 30% annual growth since 2024. Mitch credits Tai’s success to his strong team and is now focused on building its next tier of leaders.

Adversity has shaped Pranav Dalal’s leadership from the start, having launched Office Beacon three days before 9/11 and supporting his family as a single father of three. These experiences taught him to focus on maintaining strong controls and creating repeatable processes to create a resilient business. Today, Office Beacon spans five countries with over 5,000 employees, growing 30% year over year, outpacing industry peers.

Dustin Morrison is the CEO of Western Telematic, Inc. (WTI), the 62-year-old family business founded in Arcadia, California. A leader in remote out-of-band network management, WTI stands apart as the only company in its industry manufacturing entirely in the U.S. Under Dustin, WTI has achieved double-digit growth over the past two years and was named a valued supplier to NASA’s Artemis campaign.

Forty-three years ago, Jim Miller founded J.R. Miller & Associates (JRMA) with the belief that industrial facilities could be designed to be more economical and more operationally efficient. After the 2008 financial crisis, JRMA diversified into organics processing, helping the company more than triple its revenue since 2005. In 2024, Jim transitioned JRMA to an ESOP and now chairs the board.

As CEO of TechHuman, Bethany Reese has grown revenue over 200% in under 18 months, backed by a guarantee that clients reach an offer within the firm’s first three candidates. Her leadership has earned a 2025 C-Suite Award and a 2026 Best Places to Work honor from the San Antonio Business Journal, which also named her a 2026 Women’s Leadership Award honoree.

In the span of three months, Greg Padalecki became President and CEO of Alterman, welcomed his first son, and navigated a pandemic shutting down job sites nationwide. He started at the company as an apprentice in 1999 and still considers himself an electrician that was chosen to lead. Since 2020, he and his team have grown Alterman from $100M to roughly $750M, with employee-owner share value growing fivefold.

Rob Hudiburg was working in Wisconsin when a former colleague connected him to Hap Kellogg. Seventeen days later, he returned to the West Coast to join Kellogg Garden Products. Now President and CEO of the 101-year-old family business, Rob and his team have tripled revenue and roughly quadrupled profitability, transforming Kellogg from a West Coast manufacturer into a national brand.

After she was laid off while five months pregnant, Iris Schimke turned a consulting opportunity into a 36-year entrepreneurial journey. She founded and led Express Information Systems, evolving the business to a recurring revenue model that doubled revenue and profitability. In 2025, Iris sold the company to Endeavor Solutions and now uses her expertise to mentor the next generation of women entrepreneurs.

Bill Thrasher once chased a career as a military officer, serving in ROTC and enlisting in the Marine Corps. Later on, life redirected him to enter the audiovisual industry and he joined AV-Tech Media Solutions. As COO, he’s helped the company sustain nearly 20% annual growth, surpass $30M in revenue, and convert to an ESOP. Outside of work, he supports the Fanconi Anemia community and volunteers yearly at Camp Horizon.

In 2014, Fred Perry learned a lesson from H2H Blinds’ former owner that still guides him today: leadership means creating opportunity and security for people, not just earning a profit. Now VP at H2H Blinds, he’s built one of the largest window covering installation operations in the Southeast. He also co-founded the Takeoff Scholarship Program, which has awarded $105K to 12 underrepresented students pursuing construction careers.

In 2001, Carithers Flowers doubled overnight through an acquisition, with Charles Carithers working alongside his parents. After his parents passed away, Charles stepped up to lead the family business forward, cutting underperforming sales and re-envisioning their brand. Since then, he’s grown the company 2.5x to an $8.5M business and has become a fixture in the community, with his floral arrangements displayed at major events across the area.

Brian Ely and his business partner, Tonya, grew Voluntary Benefits at Work from a small Atlanta company into a national network of nearly 3,500 agents offering voluntary benefits and a solution to long-term care for companies. The unique product is a combination of permanent life insurance with a long term care benefit. Fueled largely by word of mouth, the company achieved years of 100% YoY growth before being acquired by a national insurer. With the post-sale earnout complete, Brian is staying on to help shape its next phase of growth.

For Vanessa Bechtel, the path to leadership started at age two, when generous leaders funded a preschool violin program that opened doors for her and left her wanting to pay that generosity forward. Since becoming President and CEO of the Ventura County Community Foundation in 2015, she and her team have grown philanthropic assets from just under $100 million to more than $285 million, doubled her staff, and granted more than $150 million to the community.

Nearly four decades ago, Jennifer Harris started TMC in a laundry room with a friend from college, learning the computer business on the job. In December 2024, after five years of deliberate preparation, she sold a 53% stake to a private equity firm, a milestone fewer than 1% of women-only founders ever reach. Since then, revenue has doubled within 15 months of the close and TMC has grown into TMC Global, with over 130 employees and 600 clients.

Over 33 years, Steve Mines has held active ownership in 28 companies, mostly specializing in turnarounds — such as a $69,000 acquisition grown into a $14 million sale within three years. He earned a finance degree from SDSU and was headed for an investment bank when he got sidetracked and ended up in the energy industry instead. Across all his companies, he’s created $3M in equity in his first 20 years and $168M in the past 20.

Loren Dotts started at DMS Facility Services as a window washer in 1993, stepped away, and returned in 2006 to work his way through the ranks, becoming majority owner in 2026 after holding less than 5% in 2019. He’s since grown revenue and workforce over 60%, nearly all of it organic, and built a leading-edge, client-focused company. Outside of DMS, Loren is a single father of four.

As CEO of Heartland Counseling Services, Jennifer Jackson has grown a small nonprofit from $2M to $15M in 14 years, tripling its size in the last five alone. Under her leadership, Heartland became one of just seven certified community behavioral health clinics in Nebraska and is now building a Crisis Stabilization Unit and detox center, securing over $5.5M in funding to fill a critical regional gap.

Becki Cloyed has worked nearly every role in trucking and built a family-run transportation company from that firsthand knowledge. In a male-dominated industry driven by relationships, she grew JJT from three employees to 42 across three locations, reaching $50M+ in revenue. Now on track to hit $10M in gross profit, she also funds truck driving school scholarships to support the next generation.

John Baker held nearly every role at CW Suter Services — dispatcher, service manager, salesman — before his father appointed him CEO in 2015. Now in their 100th year, he’s grown the company to 260 employees and $70M in revenue. Along the way, he created an apprenticeship program, expanded into new markets through acquisitions, and made every employee an owner by converting CW Suter to an ESOP.

Taylor Covey has navigated multiple major transactions in just a few years. He sold a small insurance agency for mid-seven figures to Gibson in 2023, then helped lead a nine-figure deal in 2025 — with 35% distributed to the employees. Today, he’s continuing to build a new division within Gibson, growing it from zero to 46 employees in three and a half years, with a goal of growing it eightfold over three years.

Tyler Seamons co-founded Signature Products Group (SPG) in 2005, and was challenged to rebuild in 2015, when revenue fell from $93M to $40M and headcount dropped from 120 to 40 employees. Through partnering with major brands including Carhartt and Skechers, Tyler has helped grow revenue to more than $140M and increased headcount to over 100 employees, with his sights set on reaching $200M by 2030.

Before Paul Chamberlain’s team was building vacuum systems for space missions, he spent five years away from his father’s company, working in aerospace. He returned with that expertise, pivoting LACO from industrial vacuum equipment into LACO Technologies. He and his brother acquired the business in 2002, growing it to 110 employees and $30 million in revenue before its May 2026 sale to the Atlas Copco Group.

Along with his partners, Dan Rye started Tensure, a tech consulting business, with a vision to build a company he would’ve been excited to work for in his twenties. Over time, he’s expanded globally into India and Mexico, increasing headcount from 100 to 150 employees, while narrowing their focus to drive stronger traction in the financial services and fintech.

Gary Ellerhorst grew up working alongside his father at the business he founded in 1972, Crown Plastics, where he developed a leadership philosophy grounded in faith and decisiveness. He has since led the company through sustained disruption, from supply chain breakdowns to geopolitical instability to the COVID pandemic, while never losing forward momentum and scaling it into a global operation across the U.S., China, and Dubai.

Marcus Sheanshang joined his family printing business at age 11, acquiring it in 2008. He transformed it to a nationally recognized packaging manufacturer, helping customers shift from plastic to paper-based solutions. With his Fair Chance program, over a third of JBM’s 165 employees are formerly incarcerated, building a culture grounded in purpose: better solutions, better lives, and better world.

From artist to global agency founder, Dale Dean built DeanHouston from zero clients and zero capital into a global firm—achieving nearly four decades of continuous growth and profitability. With a diversified client base across five strategic markets and a 95% client retention rate, his focus on developing leaders enabled a successful succession and a natural transition to guiding others as a Vistage Chair.

Guided by a mission to help patients return to active lives, Anthony Brown has transformed OrthoIllinois into one of the largest independent orthopedic platforms in the Midwest. Since becoming CEO in 2021, he’s driven 24% revenue growth (from $205M to $254M) and 347% EBITDA growth, fueled by new ambulatory surgery centers and a strategic merger forming OrthoMidwest, all while he continues to lead OrthoIllinois through sustainable growth.

An engineer turned CEO, John Orlando built EPIQ Solutions from a three-person bootstrapped startup into a product‑driven engineering company serving defense and security markets. After a pivotal shift from services to products in 2014, he led a private‑equity partnership in 2022, growing the business fourfold while maintaining a 5% voluntary attrition rate—well below industry norms.

Steve Niesman led the transformation of a $20M SAP reseller on the brink of bankruptcy into a $500M+ global technology services business, scaling to over 5,000 employees and 6,000 customers. His leadership is defined by continuous reinvention—guiding the company from resale to consulting, SaaS, and now toward AI-driven services as it positions for its next phase of growth.

Peter Manhard co-founded Manhard Consulting with his brother in 1992 and together, they grew it from 30 employees to 300, expanding from 1,000 clients to over 8,000 and 13 offices nationwide. In 2026, Peter led a successful merger with Atwell at an 8x multiple and continues to serve his community through long-standing involvement on various industry and nonprofit boards.

Raechel Peters helped guide BenefitsMe through rapid growth by expanding from a solely direct-to-employer model to a partnership strategy, integrating with payroll providers to amplify access to its financial wellness platform. That enhancement nearly doubled revenue from 2024 to 2025, grew eligible users from thousands to millions, and positioned the business to reach more than 611% growth in 2026.

When Paul Faletti became CEO of NCM Associates, he was a young leader stepping into a company founded in 1947 with deeply established operating principles. Nearly twenty years later, he has helped lead the 250-person firm through significant growth by resetting its mission, vision, and values with his team, successfully integrating five acquisitions, and enhancing ESOP shareholder value by nearly 1,000%.

John Cadwalader built Worldwide Innovations & Technologies from a basement startup into a global company whose products reduce radiation exposure for physicians and staff by up to 95%. Today, they’re used in over half of U.S. hospitals and in over 35 countries. With two decades of consistent growth, John has now passed the reins to his son as CEO and remains active in the business, excited to watch the next generation carry forward what he built.

Dean Barber made his first cold calls on Black Monday and built from there — launching his own advisory firm at 27 and scaling it to roughly $2B in assets under management. In 2023, he closed a PE-backed deal that grew the business to nearly $15B in assets and 500+ employees. For Dean, the exit freed him to focus on what he’s most passionate about, knowing he’d built something that would last beyond him.

Monica May-Dunn has spent 36 years at Arizona Escrow and Financial Corporation (AEF), rising from Assistant Controller to CFO before purchasing the company in 2020. After stepping up to rebuild the business following the loss of its entire escrow department during the pandemic, she has doubled their revenue, increased profits by 100%, and diversified their services—setting AEF up for long-term growth.

When Kirsten Whipps stepped into the role of General Manager at Affinity Kitchens & Cabinet Solutions, she inherited an organization in need of transformation. As GM, she rebuilt nearly the entire senior leadership team, navigated tariffs and economic headwinds, and led a remodel of 75% of the Scottsdale showroom in under six months, driving renewed momentum through increased leads, referrals, and hiring interest.

In 2012, Mitsugu Matsusaka became the first locally hired president of Nissin International Transport USA, a subsidiary of Nissin Corporation of Tokyo, Japan. Focused on creating an organization that is healthy and smart, he grew revenue from $105M to $140M and operating income from $1M to $6.4M, while expanding the company’s U.S. customer base to include Tesla, Procter & Gamble, and Lucid.

Chris Gleason always knew he would start his own company. In college, he launched early ventures with a friend, before co-founding NextMed in 1996. Over nearly three decades, he evolved the business through market shifts and aging technologies. In 2017, Chris guided the company through a multi‑year, two‑phase sale that concluded at roughly a 10x multiple, with the company reaching about $48M in annual recurring revenue at the time of transaction.

With a background in engineering, Ben Rosenbaum never imagined he’d one day lead a company—but he’s spent the last several years proving leadership can be learned, developed, and scaled. Since becoming President and CEO of Air-Tech in 2021, he has led with vulnerability and an employee-first mindset—driving zero regretted attrition for five consecutive years while exceeding the company’s 2025 revenue goal by 39%.

As President of AirMed International, Denise Treadwell leads a global air medical transport operation that’s completed 33,000 life-saving missions across 150 countries on six continents. She’s guided her team through complex trials— including major fleet transitions and the process of becoming a public company—all while fostering a culture focused on shared accountability and purpose.

Over his 36‑year career, Charles Murren III (Charlie) has steadily built C.A. Murren & Sons Company through calculated risk and disciplined execution. By intentionally building a leadership structure, he transformed the company from an entrepreneurial operation into an organization capable of sustaining complex, multi-year projects valued over $300M. Today, Charles remains focused on the long-term vision and strategy, while trusting his team to lead the day-to-day operations.

In 1994, Jeff Huntley, Sr. stepped away from his career at a top consulting firm to purchase T-H Marine Supplies. His disciplined leadership drove 125X revenue growth from $2M to $250M, 18 strategic acquisitions, and expansion to nine locations with 600+ employees. Having built a formal five-year exit readiness plan, Jeff led the company through a private equity transaction in 2019, followed by a final exit to a publicly traded company in 2021.

From his early days making small repairs in Bogotá to help fund a home for girls at risk of trafficking, Jacob Grady has been committed to helping others succeed. As CEO and Founder of Surface Experts, he supports more than 115 franchisees nationwide, driving 33% revenue growth in 2025. With a vision for 150 franchisees and $120 million in systemwide sales by 2028, Jacob is building thriving franchise businesses through a culture based on the gracious pursuit of excellence.

When Matt Attebery stepped in as President at AA Asphalting, employee turnover exceeded 50% — a challenge he recognized as a leadership issue he had to own. By leading a cultural transformation, Matt reduced turnover to 21% in just 18 months while growing revenue by nearly 60% and doubling EBITDA. Now CEO of HighRoad Pavement Services, he is focused on scaling the platform and building a unified identity across its operating companies.

In 2005, Tim founded Subsplash in a garage with his wife and less than $5,000, bootstrapping the company through economic downturns. Grounded in his faith, he scaled the SaaS platform to $100M in revenue, guiding it from private equity into a publicly traded NASDAQ‑100 company with an $800M valuation. Today, Subsplash serves more than 20,000 churches worldwide, and Tim continues as CEO with a vision to equip every church.

Over the course of eight years, Eric Grabowski transformed Edge Construction Supply into a scalable enterprise, growing net profit from roughly $300,000 to $3 million annually. In 2022, after years of communication and openness, he completed the final phase of a 13 year13-year ownership transition from his father‑in‑law to himself and his wife. In 2023, Eric sold Edge to NEFCO— an organization eight times its size — becoming the largest acquisition in the NEFCO’s history.

Liz Powers started ArtLifting in 2014 with $4,000 in savings and the belief that talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Today, ArtLifting is a global social enterprise championing artists with disabilities and those who have experienced homelessness. Under Liz’s leadership, the company has sold tens of millions of dollars in artwork, supported 235 artists, and cumulatively distributed $525,000 in direct artist grants.

At a time when institutions were believed to be the safest solution for people with disabilities, Pamela DonAroma had the courage to confront bureaucracy and advocate for deinstitutionalization. In 1988, she founded Futures Inc. pioneering community‑based education and opportunities for those with disabilities, growing the organization from $3.5 million in 2019 to more than $11 million in revenue in 2025.

Laura Grondin grew up learning the realities of ownership through the manufacturing company her father acquired. As President and CEO of Virginia Industries, Inc.—the parent company of Hartford Technologies and Bingham & Taylor—she helped grow B&T 9X, selling the business in 2025 and positioning her daughter to lead Virginia Industries and its subsidiary, Hartford Technologies. Beyond business, Laura is a world‑champion sailor and 2025 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year.

In 2017, Hannah Steiman left her consulting career to join Peak Support, the outsourcing company her husband founded. By strengthening the company’s infrastructure, she scaled the business from $1.6M in revenue and 60 employees to $38M and 2,000 employees. In 2025, Peak Support was sold to fuel enterprise‑level growth, and Hannah will continue to lead for the next two years to ensure a stable transition.

As an occupational therapist by background, Jordon co-founded ASPIRE Therapy & Wellness in 2020 to deliver an innovative, highly customized approach to therapy and wellness for senior living communities. After buying out her partner in 2023, she led exceptional growth and optimization. Under her leadership, ASPIRE grew 35% from 2024 to 2025 while earning a 100% NPS and 98% patient satisfaction rate.

Tom Luersen leads with a simple question: am I proud of the work I’m doing? As President of CoralTree Hospitality, he has driven tenfold revenue growth and expanded to over 50 properties nationwide. His belief that culture is a foundation for performance has increased retention from 75% to 81% across a workforce nearing 7,000. Leading with trust and authenticity, Tom has built an organization where employees are proud to stay.

Glenn Strebe’s leadership shows up most clearly in how he supports people when they need it most. As CEO of Air Academy Credit Union, Glenn serves 44,000 members with complete consumer, mortgage and business services along with insurance and financial advisory services through times of uncertainty. Today, the organization manages over $800 million in assets and earns Net Promoter Scores that rank among the best in the industry.

Patrick Berg led DeBourgh Manufacturing through COVID and market and material volatility by relying on a culture of trust with his deeply experienced team. These challenges reinforced the importance of long term thinking and continuity. Patrick made the difficult decision to sell the fourth generation family business to ensure the company, its people, its customers, and the communities it serves would continue to thrive beyond family ownership.

After a two-decade career in high-profile television, Jessica Stuart decided to chart a new path and found Long Story Short Media in 2008. Completely bootstrapped, she’s led the company through 17 consecutive years of growth, scaling it from zero to $8M in revenue and earning over 80 industry awards. Her leadership is guided by a clear purpose, “we bring a story to your voice and a voice to your story.”

When Daniel Angel acquired Lodging Source in 2023, he stepped in as a first-time CEO tasked with earning the trust of a fully remote, 15-person team. In just two and a half years, he’s grown revenue by roughly 20%, expanded to 25-employees, and restructured their support team to increase productivity. For Daniel, it’s about building a company that scales sustainably, while creating a legacy for his wife and children.

After growing up on a Nebraska farm, Gordon Bernhardt founded Bernhardt Wealth Management in 1994. Realizing his desire to grow as a leader, he developed and put into action his guiding principle: Lead ethically, advise wisely, empower legacy. The result was growth in revenue of nearly 400% and headcount of roughly 300% from 2009 to the firm’s 2022 sale, culminating in a legacy defined by people and performance.

Shawn joined Auburn Ridge in 1988 and worked through nearly every role before becoming president in 2008 at the start of the recession. After navigating major workforce reductions, he rebuilt the company’s systems and processes, growing revenue from $7.7M in 2008 to $18M by 2015. Under his leadership, Auburn Ridge reached $48M in 2025 through expanded offerings and stronger operations.

Bill Goggins spent over two decades shaping Harken Yacht Equipment to be the global leader in rope control hardware for the sailing and safety & rescue industries. Leading operations in 48 countries, he supports competition at the front of the highest levels of sailing, including the America’s Cup and Olympics. As CEO, he led a transition to 100% employee ownership, nearly doubling the business since 2020, and growing roughly fivefold since joining Vistage in 2011.

Larry Moon is a longtime manufacturing leader who grew his family‑owned business into a high‑performing organization. After assuming full ownership of Lakeside Manufacturing and Multiteria in 1998, he modernized operations, reaching the 90th percentile in on‑time shipping, sustaining 100% on‑time delivery for nearly a decade in one division, and driving double‑digit growth by rebuilding the sales organization.

Growing up the son of a home builder, David Simon launched his own company at 24 before returning to his family’s business to strengthen its systems and structure. Over time, he expanded across five complementary verticals, forming what is now Forgewell Building Group, a nearly $600M entity with over 800 employees. After transitioning from CEO to Chairman, he continues to mentor others while embracing family and adventure.

John Lande left his finance career to pursue entrepreneurship, becoming a minority partner at National Works in 2013. After the loss of his partner and mentor in 2023, he led with honesty and empathy through the transition to sole ownership. Under his steady leadership, he reinvested over $2M in fleet and equipment and drove over 25% revenue growth and more than 50% EBITDA growth the next year.

Richard Spradley’s entrepreneurial path began early, working in his father’s contracting business at 11 and buying his first tractor at 14. Those lessons shaped a career building several technology companies, including Whooster. Today, he leads a highly recurring SaaS intelligence platform that supports complex investigations, with 96.5% revenue retention and 65% average year-over-year growth over the past decade.

In 1996, Ellen Wood pioneered fractional CFO services as she started vcfo to support small and midsize businesses helping them make strategic financial decisions to achieve optimal results. Today the company has expanded its geographic footprint and product offerings to include CHRO and Capital Market professionals. The mission is the same; helping client companies become stronger in ever expanding ways.

Mark Dittman’s leadership began in a family business, moving from repairing bank equipment to programming and technical sales. In 2007, he co‑founded IBT Apps, growing it from $250K in its first year to $1.6M by year two and building it into a national provider of core banking software. Committed to creating a legacy, Mark designed a three-year transition plan, leading to his smooth exit in 2022.

After stepping away from her leadership role in a large health system in 2015, Alison Pidgeon launched Move Forward Counseling with a vision to redefine what a mental health practice could be. Today, she’s grown the company from $30k in revenue to $7.4M, expanded to eight locations with 80 employees, all while maintaining a no-wait-list model and earning Best Place to Work honors five years running.

Justin Leader is on a mission to showcase what transparent healthcare consulting looks like. He’s led BenefitsDNA to 40% year‑over‑year revenue growth, 98% client retention and 80% referral‑driven new business. Recognized nationally as a top five Benefits Advisor of the Year finalist, he’s committed to elevating industry standards and giving back to his community.

Beth Hahn founded Secure‑A‑Home, a residential alarm company, right out of college, then later stepped in as President of her father’s fire alarm & security company, Berkshire Systems Group. Since 2016 she’s navigated Berkshire through culture shifts and COVID, more than doubling revenue from under $16M to $37M while strengthening profitability and expanding across Pennsylvania.

When Grant Guilbert acquired Elevate Digital Optics (EDO) in 2017, the company was on the brink. After losing 95% of revenue in 2020, he rebuilt from the ground up, growing from 7 to 22 employees and driving $1M annual revenue growth. By reinvesting $1.5M, Grant doubled capacity and transformed culture. Looking ahead, Grant’s looking to accelerate EDO’s growth and plant their flag in the healthcare industry.

With three decades of experience at BOKA Powell, John Orfield led through a major leadership transition while modernizing operations and culture. With 95% employee retention, he’s built a thriving, people-first firm. Now, as he nears retirement, John is preparing the next generation of partners to carry the company’s legacy forward.

Craig Crock started Southwest Solutions at age 26, growing it from $1M in revenue to now over $80M. Committed to creating growth opportunities for his 220 team members, he transitioned the business to a 100% ESOP in 2017, with share value climbing from $2 to $44. With the company recently debt-free and having made two acquisitions, Craig continues to lead with a vision to make every employee a millionaire.