Grounded Toward Growth

Grounded Toward Growth

Welcome to my Leadership Podcast, Grounded Toward Growth. I work with amazing leaders in the Baltimore, MD area, and I firmly believe that growth, both personally and professionally, begins with grounded, foundational balance.

Episodes

September 26, 2025 17 mins

As a Vistage Chair, one of my favorite parts of this work is hearing the stories of why leaders choose to join a peer advisory group. In this conversation, I sit down with Jessica Kenyon, CEO of The Conafay Group, to explore her journey into leadership and what led her to Vistage. Jessica is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of experience in advanced medical technology development and federal research. She’s advised For...

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If you’re spending most of your time putting out fires, you’re robbing your company of your most important work. As CEO, your job is to lead — not to chase every urgent problem. But when you’re buried in the weeds, you can’t see the big opportunities right in front of you. In my Vistage group, we help each other step out of the weeds — and stay out. Because your company needs your vision, not your constant firefighting. If you’re a...

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Leading a company can be lonely. You can’t unload on your employees, your spouse, or your competitors. But the truth is — running a $3M+ business is too big for one person to carry alone. That’s why my CEOs meet once a month behind closed doors. No judgment. Just clarity, perspective, and the kind of support only other CEOs can give. Based in the DMV? Let’s talk. #Leadership #CEOs #ExecutiveCoaching #Vistage #BusinessGrowth #DMVBus...

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Join Vistage Chair Rick Vanasse for a special conversation with his newest Chief Executive Group member, TJ Monahan, AIA — architect, entrepreneur, and author of Designed Happy: The Book. In this LinkedIn Live, they’ll dive into key chapters from TJ’s book, exploring how lessons from architecture apply to leadership, and the design of a fulfilling life and business.

From childhood dreams fueled by LEGO bricks to leading a thriving ...

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In a growing business, there is often a gap between the grand vision and the hands-on work needed to see the vision become real. Have you found the next big idea or the next big challenge that needs to be addressed only to ask who knows how and has capacity to drive the outcomes? When you work with On the Mark, I will operationalize those big ideas and coach your team to tackle the challenges and achieve the results needed to do wh...

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The best leaders I know are humble, hungry, and emotionally intelligent. That’s not something I learned in a classroom. It’s something I inherited. I come from Swedish immigrants who didn’t talk about leadership—they lived it. They worked hard, built community, and made a better life through quiet determination. Their legacy shapes the way I coach CEOs today: not just to grow companies, but to grow as humans.

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Join me and former Vistage member, Jamie Waldren, to discuss his new book: Exit on Your Own Terms - 10 Blind Spots You Need To Know To Plan Your Exit and Make Work Optional It’s a common dilemma for many business owners, where the demands of daily operations often take precedence over long-term planning. Focusing on keeping the business running smoothly may have kept you in survival mode, but now it’s time to think strategically ab...

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M. Luis Construction is a civil construction company specializing in asphalt milling/paving and concrete site construction with offices in Baltimore, Silver Spring and Rockville, Maryland. M. Luis Products operates 2 full service asphalt manufacturing facilities in Rockville and Glen Burnie, Maryland.

Their president, David Slaughter, is one of the founding members of my Vistage Chief Executive group.

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Elana Burr never planned on becoming a recruiter. Fresh out of college with a degree in Family Studies, she initially expected to pursue a career in social work—until she realized she wanted a profession centered around people while also allowing her the freedom to build something of her own. At just 22, she quit her job after three months in recruiting and launched her first firm, Metro Recruiting. Over 17 years, she grew it into...

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March 25, 2025 2 mins

What drove me to be a Vistage Chair? Listen here. 

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Many business owners start with the belief that after a few years of hard work, they’ll be able to ease off the gas. But too often, they find themselves still grinding, working long hours, and struggling to scale beyond their current plateau. In this conversation, I'll sit down with current Vistage Member, Diane Mentzer, to discuss her practice untangling jumbled operations for busy business leaders. If your business is stuck betw...

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February 5, 2025 2 mins

As leaders, we need to be open to unpredictability. The wind can shift suddenly, and so can market conditions, team dynamics, or customer needs. Just as a sailor reads the wind and adjusts the sails, we must read our environment and respond accordingly, all while keeping our eye on the destination.

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July 22, 2024 26 mins

Join me and current Vistage member, Harry Haywood, on his work with HBS Solutions and how Vistage has impacted his business growth. HBS is a Technical Service Company focused on providing facility engineering solutions to government and commercial facilities.

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Join me and current member, Jamie Waldren for this LinkedIn Live event. Jamie operates JN Private Wealth Management, an independent RIA Registered Investment Advisor operating as a Virtual Family Office. Their fiduciary VFO model offers comprehensive wealth management strategies for CEOs, entrepreneurs, business leaders, and individuals transitioning into retirement to help make work optional. With a client centric holistic appro...

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Join me and Doug McGinnis, who has been a Vistage member for 10 years. He is the owner of Bunting Door & Hardware Co. one of the largest distributors of Hollow Metal Doors and Frames, Wood Doors, Architectural Hardware, Specialty Doors and Bath Accessories in the Mid-Atlantic region. Bunting acquired LOKTEK Entry and Access Solutions in 2018, and added LOKTEK Automatics this year. They distribute and install Horton Automatic ...

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June 17, 2024 30 mins

Interview with Chris Brown. 

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May 7, 2024 16 mins

Current member Bradley Marks serves as Chief Client Officer at Vheda Health, bringing nearly 20 years of health care experience. In this role, Bradley holds the responsibility for ensuring targeted growth for market dynamics, client needs and preferences while ultimately delivering on member satisfaction. Join us to discuss his work and what led him to join Vistage Worldwide, Inc.

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April 8, 2024 14 mins

Join me and founding Key Group member, Michael Costa. Mike is the Director of Operations with HBS. HBS is a Technical Service Company focused on providing facility engineering solutions to government and commercial facilities. The HBS Solutions team is comprised of skilled professional engineers, project managers, consultants and technicians who are widely sought for their specialized experience and accomplishments. The mission of ...

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March 27, 2024 11 mins

Who is your "Radar O'Reilly"? All great leaders need the support of an excellent executive team. 

In fact, servant leadership is a leadership style that prioritizes the growth, well-being, and empowerment of employees. It aims to foster an inclusive environment that enables everyone in the organization to thrive as their authentic self.

Check out this conversation with my col...

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March 15, 2024 10 mins

Join me and current member, Kristen Coveleski, to learn why she drives two hours each way every month to be at our meetings. Kristen is Regional Director with Inter-Fluve, and a senior water resources engineer with experience in all phases of river and estuary restoration including business development, project management, proposal writing, surveying, hydrology, hydraulic modeling, sediment transport, designs, permitting, specifica...

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