Thought Leadership

Ryan Lewis is the Founder and CEO of EarthHero, an eco-friendly online marketplace. It’s a business with big goals, namely saving the planet one sustainable purchase at a time. Ryan believes deeply in that cause and has committed to educating the average Joe on how to shop and consume sustainably to further it.  Still, he sees himself as a family man and nature junkie first and foremost. How does he do it? By balancing his ecological business goals with his personal life, making Zero [...]

Cody Hinkle is an account manager at GadellNet and also sits on the board of directors for the Riverbend Growth Association. She believes we all have a voice, and her mission is to get millennials and beyond involved in the community. How does Cody find time outside of her family to better her community? Listen to find out. Key Takeaways: You have a voiceAlways be learningInclude your family   Things to Listen For: [00:25] Meet Cody[00:55] What Zero Excuses means to Cod [...]

Opal Jones is the CEO and President of Doorways, a non-profit that supports those living with HIV.  Leading Doorways was not a job Opal ever intended to have, but once she realized how much of an impact she could make in that role, she never looked back.  Opal knows she can’t solve all the world's problems, no one can, but she also believes her skills can help those in need. So, Opal makes zero excuses and focuses on moving the needle through her organization and community outrea [...]

Abby Williams, an Account Manager at GadellNet, is also the Chair of the Leukemia Lymphoma Society of Indiana. When her son was diagnosed with cancer, Abby vowed to commit to helping find the cure for cancer and live life to the fullest — all with a Zero Excuses mindset. What does Zero Excuses mean to Abby? Listen to find out. Key Takeaways: The importance of living life to the fullestDon’t let life happen — make life happenSee the good, even if it’s small Things to Listen F [...]

Santiago Jaramillo knows all about dramatic change, when he was just 10 years old he immigrated to the U.S. and had to figure out how to thrive in a new country that came with its own set of rules. And thrive he did, to the point where he’s since earned himself titles like CEO and author. As a serial entrepreneur, he took his past experiences and used them to help others navigate change and now he’s in a transition period himself. He’s just sold Emplify, a company he founded, and he’ [...]

Allison Melangton is the Senior Vice President at Penske Entertainment, a job she specifically pursued to be the brains behind the Indy 500 operation. No small task. Given that she previously headed the host committee for the Superbowl in the past (making her only the second woman to have done so), she looked at the Indy 500 as just another exciting challenge and planned the 100th running of the race flawlessly.  When COVID hit, like most of us, her best-laid plans were tossed out the w [...]

Blake Behr never imagined he would start his own company, but, as the saying goes, never say never. Now he’s President of Ridgeline Electrical Industries. A terrible work environment pushed him to make the leap and create a place where people actually enjoyed working. Pretty crazy concept, right? Basic things like showing appreciation and creating a positive culture might sound easy enough but require a lot of time and serious commitment - something many bosses aren’t willing to inves [...]

Tyler Mayer considered taking the cloth before he became an educator, a path that led him to his current role as the President and CEO of Providence Cristo Rey, a faith-based college and career prep high school.  There he helps kids become the best version of themselves. “If you don't show up every day striving to make that connection with those students and give it your all and run down the hill they're going to see right through you.” Tyler coaches “running down the hill” a [...]

Working side by side with your significant other may sound like a recipe for disaster. And yet, for Ryan and Kristy Rans, it’s something they spent years doing.  Fast forward. Prime Hospitality Group is thriving under their leadership even during the uncertainty of the pandemic. As Ryan shares, “It happened. Forget about how it happened. What‘s the best way to navigate the waters?” Instead of focusing on what happened, they’re looking ahead at how to overcome any challenge usi [...]

Liesel Mertes is a workplace empathy consultant and the owner of Handle with Care Consulting. Her job is to help companies learn how to support team members through what she calls disruptive life events, something she knows all too much about.  She experienced a tragedy that could have devastated her, but instead, she found a way to fight through the pain and help others.  How does she do it? She makes Zero Excuses.  Listen for: Sharing empathy in the workplace Th [...]