ROI’s Into the Corner Office Podcast: Powerhouse Middle Market CEOs Telling it Real—Unexpected Caree...

Re-release: Matt DiLorenzo, CEO, TYR

In honor of the Tokyo Olympics, we are re-releasing episode 34 of the show which features Matt DiLorenzo, CEO of TYR Sport, a company that serves some of the world's best athletes. Named as one of the ten most influential people in swimming by Swimming World Magazine, TYR Sport Chief Executive Officer Matt DiLorenzo has proven to drive his industry in both innovation and design. As a leading manufacturer of swim and triathlon gear, DiLorenzo’s brand has outfitted some of the greatest names in sports including 12x Olympic Medalist Ryan Lochte. Today, his company boasts an impressive roster of over thirty professional athletes and has expanded global distribution to include seventy-five countries. Under DiLorenzo’s leadership TYR Sport has secured major national partnerships with U.S.A Swimming, U.S.A Water Polo, U.S. Masters Swimming and over fifty-five universities and colleges. Most recently, TYR also announced its position as the new title sponsor of the 2018 TYR Pro Swim Series. However, Matt’s commitment to pushing the envelope has catapulted the brand far beyond just domestic success. Internationally, TYR functions as the official product supplier for all aquatic disciplines within LEN (The European Swimming League). In addition, TYR technical suits, swimskins, wetsuits and equipment have been worn by athletes at the highest levels of international competition including the IRONMAN World Championships and the Summer Olympic Games. Responsible for building major community based initiatives on behalf of his brand, DiLorenzo continues to find ways to give back. Throughout his tenure TYR has participated in learn to swim clinics and programs. In 2012, TYR launched its first TYR Pink collection; a line of products dedicated to fighting the battle against breast cancer. Since then TYR has donated over $325,000 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), with the line continuing to grow each year. In addition to Hurricane Harvey relief, DiLorenzo and team TYR athletes most recently worked alongside the Mac Crutchfield Foundation to support drowning prevention programs and events, as well as the Special Olympics. In recognition of his major contributions to both TYR Sport and the industry as a whole, DiLorenzo was presented with the Sporting Goods Business 40 Under 40 award by The SportsOneSource Group in 2013. He is a graduate of Villanova University with a Bachelor of Science degree in both finance and economics.

John Temple, CEO, Guideposts

John Temple is the President and CEO of Guideposts, a national non-profit organization that promotes hope, faith, and prayer in people’s lives. Guideposts reaches millions of people to build a more hopeful and positive world united in understanding,  empathy, and compassion. Under John’s leadership,  Guideposts has grown from its publishing roots into a digital-first organization where the spiritual needs of the Guideposts community are being served through a combination of apps,  communities, websites, outreach, and publications.  Prior to Guideposts, John served as the founder and Chief of the Human Trafficking Response Unit at the Manhattan District  Attorney’s Office in New York City. John worked to form the unit in recognition of the devastating impact that human trafficking has on its victims and their families. Under his leadership, the unit developed innovative approaches to combat trafficking on a domestic and international scale. His holistic vision brought together diverse stakeholders to build the anti-trafficking community across multiple disciplines,  geographies, and industries.   John has lectured both within the U.S. and internationally on human trafficking for foreign delegations, members of law enforcement, the legal community, non-profits, and other governmental agencies. He has been recognized for his anti-trafficking work as one of New York’s “New Abolitionists” and is the recipient of the Thomas E. Dewey Medal for outstanding prosecutors.  From 2012 to 2016, John taught courses on human trafficking and constitutional law at Fordham University. He graduated from the University of Rochester in 1998 and from Brooklyn Law School in 2003. 

Chuck Proudfit, President, Skillsource

Chuck Proudfit is the Founder and President of SKILLSOURCE®, which delivers sustainable growth in sales, profits and people to client companies through a focus on winning strategies, strong leadership and healthy cultures. SKILLSOURCE® integrates consulting, training and coaching services to deliver “Business Building” through carefully assembled teams of talented contractors. Chuck developed his general management expertise at three industry-leading firms: The Procter & Gamble Company, The Ernest & Julio Gallo Winery, and LensCrafters Corporation. Chuck earned his academic degree from Harvard University, where he pioneered the school’s organizational development curriculum. Chuck has held adjunct faculty positions at the Great Oaks Institute and Cincinnati Christian University. Chuck has been quoted, interviewed, profiled and published in wide-ranging media such as Success, Outcomes, Inspire, BRAVE, Lead, NOW, Half Time Report and Christianity Today magazines; the Business Courier, The Small Business Journal, The Cincinnati Enquirer, Daily Herald, The Chicago Tribune, and The Boston Globe; as well as Soap Box media, Success Radio, Street Insider, Cision, American Dreamers, Revelations Documentaries and Fox TV. Chuck is the founder of At Work on Purpose, a ministry guiding Christians to integrate faith and work. He serves on the faculty for Transform Our World, an alliance of marketplace and ministry leaders working together to make the world a better place. Chuck is an advisory board member with Self Sustaining Enterprises, which generates profits for philanthropy through entrepreneurism. Chuck has led SKILLSOURCE® to a TriState Success Award for exceptional business growth, a Torch Award commendation for business ethics from the Better Business Bureau, and a Perfect 10 Certified Corporate Culture designation. Chuck has received the Angel Award for community service from the Smith Family Foundation. Chuck holds a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do under U.S. Olympic Coach Hong Kong Kim. He serves as an Elder at Grace Chapel near his home in Mason, Ohio, and periodically leads business people on missions trips to under-resourced countries. Chuck and his wife Jeryl are the proud parents of Aidan and Maya, both adopted as infants from South Korea.

Mike L‘Heureux, President & CEO, ILF Canada

Michel L’Heureux is the current President and CEO of ILF Canada. A driven engineering and business development leader with progressive experience growing organizations and executing projects, Mike leverages over 15 years of experience in engineering and consulting in leading cross-functional teams to overcome project and organizational challenges. As a highly engaged analytical and strategic thinker, Mike thrives in a global work environment and crafting fit-for-purpose solutions to clients and stakeholders in the energy industry. By developing strong client relations and driving the passion, strengths, talent, and skills of his teams, Mike continues to elevate ILF Canada as a leader in oil & gas and the energy transition. With ILF, Mike has held various titles. Before taking over as CEO, he served as the Director of Projects and Strategic Growth and as a Project Manager respectively, leading and overseeing the functional project support teams for ILF Canada. Prior to ILF, Mike was a Project Manager and Piping Stress and Materials Engineer at Ridgeline Engineering and WorleyParsons respectively. Mike is a member of several industry associations, including the Association of Professional Engineers, and Geoscientists of Alberta (APEGA), Engineers, and Geoscientists of British Columbia (EGBC), Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), and the Project Management Institute (PMI). He holds a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan and an MBA from Queen's University.

Kelvin Cochran, Senior Fellow & Vice President, Alliance Defending Freedom.

Background: Shreveport, Louisiana native Kelvin J. Cochran, as a five-year-old boy, was spellbound by Shreveport Firefighters fighting a fire across the street from his house and dreamed that one day he would be a firefighter. Education: A proud student of Caddo Parish Public Schools, he graduated from Woodlawn High School (1978); Wiley College (1999) with a Bachelor's Degree in Organizational Management; Louisiana Tech University (2004) with a Master’s Degree in Industrial and Organizational Psychology; a Doctorate in Interdisciplinary Leadership from Creighton University, and Honorary Doctorate in Christian Leadership from Ohio Christian University.  Employment History: His employment with the Shreveport Fire Department began in 1981 as a firefighter. He was then promoted to Fire Training Officer and served in this capacity from 1985 - 1990, when he gained promotion to Assistant Chief Training Officer. His service in this position concluded when he was appointed Fire Chief of the Shreveport Fire Department on August 26, 1999.  On January 2, 2008 he was appointed fire chief of the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.  On August 17, 2009 he was appointed as the United States Fire Administrator by President Barack Obama; June 19, 2010 he was re-appointed by Mayor Kasim Reed as Fire Chief of the City of Atlanta Fire Rescue Department.  He most recently served as Chief Operating Officer of Elizabeth Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia, and has very recently accepted the position of Senior Fellow & Vice President with Alliance Defending Freedom. Personal: He is married to Carolyn and the father of three children and has one granddaughter.

Stephanie Pugliese, President of the Americas, Under Armour

Stephanie Pugliese has been President of the Americas since June 2020. Prior to that, she served as President of North America from September 2019 to May 2020. Prior to joining Under Armour, Ms. Pugliese served as Chief Executive Officer and President of Duluth Trading Company from February 2015 to August 2019, and as President from February 2012 to August 2019. Prior thereto, Ms. Pugliese served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Duluth Trading Company from February 2014 to February 2015, Senior Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer from July 2010 to February 2012, and as Vice President of Product Development from November 2008 to July 2010. Ms. Pugliese also served in various leadership roles with Lands’ End, Inc. from 2005 to 2008 and at Ann Inc. from 2000 to 2003.

Steve Bell, President, Bellmont Cabinet Company

Steve Bell is owner and chief executive officer of Pacific Crest Industries, Inc., which most notably includes Bellmont Cabinet Company. Bellmont Cabinet Co. is a family-owned cabinet manufacturer located in Sumner, Washington, dedicated to product innovation, functionality, and timeless yet trend-setting styles. The mission of Bellmont Cabinets is to leave the world a better place, building integrity, respect, and responsibility as stewards of the community and environment. Steve started his company in his garage in the 70’s and built it into a 200-employee, $30 million-a-year maker of high-end cabinets. Then he had to rebuild it again when “the high-rise business went away” with the recession and revenue plunged 60 percent. His sons are now a key part of the Bellmont tradition as it now reaches to almost 300 employees.

Brian Mosley, President, RightNow Media

Brian Mosley is President of RightNow Media. RightNow Media serves pastors, staff, church members, and other Christian business leaders by producing video-based Bible Studies, creating Leadership Training Resources, and hosting inspirational events and conferences in major cities around the globe. Brian leads the ministry with a quiet and determined leadership style. RightNow believes the mission of the Church matters. Their ultimate goal is to encourage, inspire, and equip millions of Christians to be on mission wherever God has them -- in their home, at work, school, church or around the world. Brian graduated from Baylor University and then married his high school sweetheart, Julie. They have four kids, Abby, Grant, Ashley and Tristan. Two of their kids came through fostering and adoption so they are big fans of orphan care initiatives. They worship and serve at Allen Bible Church where Brian is also an elder.

Jennifer Lemcke, CEO, Weed Man / Turf Bot / Mosquito Hero

Backed by nearly 30 years of experience, Jennifer Lemcke first became involved with Weed Man back in 1993 as a manager trainee in Ottawa, Canada. She worked in every position within the company - from marketing to administration to field technician. Jennifer was soon promoted to General Manager where she managed Weed Man Ottawa’s sales and administration divisions and helped grow the franchise revenues from $200,000 to $2,000,000 in five years. This varied experience provided her with valuable, hands-on knowledge and a thorough understanding of the lawn care industry as a whole. The advent of the new millennium brought Jennifer to Weed Man Scarborough. While lending a helping hand to the existing management team and managing the two largest lawn care companies in Canada, Jennifer gained the experience and confidence needed to officially launch the Weed Man brand in the United States. Over the years, the company has grown exponentially with franchise locations all across the country. In 2018, another exciting opportunity presented itself - the opportunity to acquire the rights to the Weed Man brand world-wide. With the systems and success experienced in the United States, it was a natural fit. And one that Jennifer and her team were eager and excited to take on. But it doesn’t stop there! Passionate about growing people and creating opportunities for franchisees and their employees, Weed Man recently turned its latest expanded service offering into its very own sub-brand. Mosquito Hero, powered by Weed Man, was created to provide an additional recurring revenue stream for existing Weed Man franchise owners. Jennifer is now responsible for supporting Weed Man's 10 sub-franchisors and franchisees across the globe, covering over 727 territories within the United States, Canada and the U.K., representing over $215 million in system sales. Jennifer credits her team’s purposeful devotion to the success of the franchisees as the secret to their growth. With the experience Jennifer has gained in the franchising and home services industries, the company recently turned their attention to robotic lawn mowing and started testing the concept of TurfBot Mowing. From mower installation, biweekly trimming and the physical maintenance of the robots, TurfBot offers high-end technology to help homeowners with a simple chore...mowing their lawn. The future of the lawn care and home services industries look rather promising. And Jennifer and her team are excited at what the future has to hold, and look forward to creating more opportunities for expansion in the coming years. Family-oriented (in her home life and in business), Jennifer is ‘Mom’ to three children and takes pride in calling all Weed Man franchisees and employees part of her extended family. Outside of work, she likes to travel, entertain and if not on the move or socializing with her guests, you can find her on the golf course (although self-admittedly, her game could use some work). For more information on franchising with Weed Man, visit us online today at www.weedmanfranchise.com.

Sebastien St. Louis, CEO, HEXO Corp

Author of the Billion Dollar Start-Up, Sébastien co-founded HEXO Corp. with one goal in mind: to create a world-class company based on the highest standards of product quality and safety. Since 2013, he has secured more than $650 million dollars in financing for the company. His leadership has been instrumental in navigating the company through regulatory, financing and start-up challenges on route to becoming the only significant licensed cannabis producer in Quebec and one of the largest in Canada. Through its hub and spoke business strategy, HEXO Corp. is partnering with Fortune 500 companies, bringing its brand value, cannabinoid isolation technology, licensed infrastructure, and regulatory expertise to established companies, leveraging their distribution networks and capacity. Sébastien holds an MBA in Finance from the Université du Québec à Montréal and completed his Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from the University of Ottawa in 18 months.