Ryan Tanaka came to KAI Hawaii from finance and acquisitions, not engineering. Today he is President and CEO of the employee-owned structural engineering firm in Honolulu, leading a team of highly technical engineers. Pacific Business News named him one of its 2026 Most Admired Leaders.
Tom Lazzaro walked into Midwest Transatlantic Lines looking for a job indoors after a season of digging ditches by hand. He was employee number 21. Today he’s President of MTA, an employee-owned international logistics company in Berea, Ohio.
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, Billy Duren sits down with Matthew Collins, CEO of Heritage Aviation, to explore an inspiring path from frontline service technician to the top of the company. They talk through the real challenges and lessons that come with rising through the ranks, why developing other leaders matters so much, and how authentic leadership plus accountability shape the culture of a business.
In this episode, Billy Duren sits down with Ben Holder, CEO of Plastic Products Company. This is a 100% employee-owned business that employs over 900 people across ten plants nationwide. Ben shares the company’s remarkable journey, which began in a garage in 1962 and grew into a major contract manufacturer serving industry giants like 3M and GE Appliances.
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren sits down with Lindsay Funkhouser, co-founder of Strategic Mixtape, to explore the true value of executive coaching. Packed with practical insights on transparency, resilience under pressure, and creating high-trust cultures, this episode underscores that great leadership is a lifelong pursuit of learning, honest feedback, and bringing out the best in every team member.
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren talks with Sarah Billings, CEO of Centrol Ag Consulting. Sarah Billings shares her unique journey from small-town Minnesota to leading a company that helps farmers grow better crops using smart science and technology. They talk about how farm consulting is like being a “doctor for crops,” giving advice but not selling products, which helps keep their recommendations unbiased.
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren talks with Sarah Billings, CEO of Centrol Ag Consulting. Sarah Billings shares her unique journey from small-town Minnesota to leading a company that helps farmers grow better crops using smart science and technology. They talk about how farm consulting is like being a “doctor for crops,” giving advice but not selling products, which helps keep their recommendations unbiased.
In this episode, Billy Duren chats with Bert Thornton, former president and COO of Waffle House, about his journey from manager trainee to the top of an iconic restaurant chain. Bert Thornton shares how Waffle House became known for “good food fast” and how the company grew from a single diner to over 2,000 locations.
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren talks with financial consultant Darryl Bryant about the importance of financial planning, especially for young leaders. Darryl Bryant shares how starting small and staying consistent with savings, like in a 401(k) or ESOP, can make a huge difference over time, thanks to the magic of compounding.
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren sits down with Chris Adee and Lynnette Fritz from OwnersEdge, an employee-owned company in Wisconsin. They talk about how Owner’s Edge grew from a single business into a family of diverse operating companies, all united under one ESOP (Employee Stock Ownership Plan).