The Path Less Traveled Podcast

Leadership Roundtable Series | Developing the Next Generation of Leaders | Session 3

How do you develop the next generation of talent on purpose — not just by accident?
In Session 3 of The Path Less Traveled Leadership Roundtable, Craig Heatherly is joined by Jason Lippert (President & CEO, Lippert/LCI), Shaun Phy (President, C&S Machine), and Dr. Marco Clark (President, Holy Cross College) for a practical, honest conversation about identifying, developing, and accelerating talent in your organization.
Key frameworks from this session:
Stop Doing. Start Teaching. — your job is to develop people, not do things (Jason)
The Leadership Action Plan (LAP) — a 3x5 card. Personal goals first. Always. (Jason)
Hungry, Humble, Smart — Lencioni's filter for identifying who actually has it (Shaun)
You Can't Afford Not To — the real cost of not investing in development (Shaun)
Lead Yourself First — authenticity and self-awareness aren't soft skills (Dr. Clark)
Invite Them to the Balcony — help people see the bigger picture so they can lead from it (Dr. Clark)
This session is sponsored by Gibson and Performance Plus.

Leadership Roundtable Series | Navigating Difficult Conversations | Session 2

The hard conversation you keep putting off? It's costing you more than you think.
In Session 2 of The Path Less Traveled Leadership Roundtable, Craig Heatherly is joined by Laurie Nafziger (President & CEO, Oaklawn), Todd Yeoman (President, American Technology Components), and Dr. Rebecca Stoltzfus (President, Goshen College) for an honest, unscripted conversation about navigating difficult conversations in leadership.
Key frameworks from this session:
Clear is Kind — why directness is an act of respect, not aggression (Brené Brown, via Laurie)
What You Permit, You Promote — silence is never neutral
Anchor to Purpose, Not Feelings — how to stay steady when the room gets emotional
Push Pause — slowing down isn't weakness, it's strategy
Get Curious When They Get Furious — intense emotion signals deep caring
Relationship Health = Response Time — the shorter the lag, the stronger the relationship
This session is sponsored by C12 West Michigan & Northern Indiana and Gibson.

Leadership Roundtable Series | The Daily Discipline of Leaders | Session 1

What separates good leaders from great ones? Discipline. The daily choices nobody sees.
In Session 1 of The Path Less Traveled Leadership Roundtable Series, Craig Heatherly brings Craig Brummell (COO of ABRO Industries), Dustin Holland (President & CEO of Better World Books) and Steve Brenneman (Founder of ATC Trailers & Aluminum Insights) together for one unscripted conversation about the daily disciplines that actually move the needle in leadership.
Highlights from this session:
Why letting go of control is one of the hardest — and most important — things a leader can do
The discipline of slowing down to fully understand a problem before acting on it
Why your personal life and your leadership are more connected than most people admit
What separates leaders who grow from those who plateau
This session is sponsored by Chrome Group and Gibson.

Ben Duke | President, Polaris Marine | S3:E22

Ben Duke, President of Polaris Marine, leads a $1B division responsible for iconic brands like Bennington, Godfrey, and Hurricane ... operating at scale, under constant pressure.
In this episode, Ben shares what it takes to lead through real disruption, from COVID demand shocks to supply‑chain volatility and market correction without breaking trust or losing strategic focus.
He walks through how disciplined leaders stay out of the weeds, why relationships matter more than dashboards when stakes are high, and how simplicity, accountability, and long‑term thinking create durable organizations.
A conversation for leaders who make consequential decisions—and want to make them better.
 

Kelly Ball | CEO, Pathfinders Advertising | S3:E21

Kelly Ball, CEO of Pathfinders Advertising, leads a 47-year-old agency built on one core idea: help companies tell their story in a way that connects.
In this episode, Kelly shares lessons on stepping into the CEO role, aligning teams, and leading through rapid change—especially with the rise of AI.
He breaks down why most companies get marketing wrong, how AI is reshaping workflows, and why the best leaders focus on clarity, simplicity, and execution.
A conversation on leadership, adaptability, and thinking differently in a noisy world.

Dustin Holland | President & CEO, Better World Books | S3:E20

Dustin Holland, President and CEO of Better World Books, leads one of the world’s largest online booksellers with a mission to keep books in circulation and out of landfills.
What began as college book drives at University of Notre Dame has grown into a global operation processing hundreds of thousands of books each week and partnering with thousands of libraries around the world.
In this episode, Dustin shares the leadership lessons behind building a mission-driven company—making hard decisions in real time, investing in relationships, and staying focused on long-term sustainability.
This conversation highlights how purpose, perseverance, and hands-on leadership can turn a simple idea into global impact.

Kory Lantz | Founder & Executive Director, Transformation Ministries | S3:E19

Kory Lantz, founder of Transformation Ministries, builds change slowly and intentionally.
What began 17 years ago as a choice to live in a neighborhood and be present has grown into a nonprofit serving hundreds of South Bend kids and families. Kory's approach centers on depth over scale, offering education, mentoring, job training, spiritual guidance, and family support to children from infancy through young adulthood.
In this episode, Kory shares how the organization expanded through small, faithful steps—developing after-school programs, youth-run microbusinesses, alumni support, and early learning initiatives—creating generational impact.
He reflects on long-term leadership: naming seasons, grieving losses, protecting clarity, and developing others. His leadership blends grit, faith, coaching, and the courage to take the next right step.
This conversation highlights leadership that values presence over shortcuts, proving transformation is built one relationship at a time.

Craig Brummell | COO, ABRO Industries | S3:E18

Craig Brummell, COO of ABRO Industries, is stepping into leadership with a long-term mindset.
Just weeks into the role, Craig reflects on joining a 75+ year, globally respected company headquartered in South Bend, operating in 150 countries with a small but mighty team. His focus isn’t fixing what’s broken. It’s strengthening alignment, supporting people, and helping shape the next 45 years of generational leadership.
In this episode, Craig shares how a non-linear career, deep self-reflection, and daily anchoring practices have shaped his leadership philosophy: do the inner work, seek discomfort, and lead from the inside out.
His message is clear: stay curious, invest in people, and show up present — at work and at home.