In Good Company

Lisa Kilrea
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In Good Company, where relationships drive results, with your host, Lisa Kilrea. In each episode, we explore how great leaders build trust, inspire teams, and turn meaningful connections into real success.

  1. May 25

    Turning Kitting Into Strategic Advantage With Wesley Murphy

    Wesley Murphy is the Vice President of Operations at Peoria Production Solutions, a self-supporting nonprofit that provides kitting, assembly, and fulfillment services for manufacturers across multiple industries. PPS is known for operational efficiency, ISO-certified quality standards, and inclusive employment opportunities for people with disabilities. In his role, Wesley leads large-scale operational programs, focusing on quality, inventory visibility, and on-time execution. He is passionate about building trusted partnerships and fostering operational excellence. In this episode… Kitting may seem like a straightforward process, but for manufacturers managing complex supply chains, tight labor markets, and urgent customer demands, it can become a strategic advantage. When every component, deadline, and inventory movement matters, how can companies reduce complexity while maintaining quality, speed, and trust? For Wesley Murphy, building structured kitting programs brings multiple products together into one organized, trackable SKU. Drawing from his expertise in large-scale kitting, assembly, fulfillment, and operations, Wesley explains that effective kitting helps manufacturers improve turnaround times, simplify inventory management, and give customers everything they need in one complete kit. He also highlights the value of flexible operational support during redirects, warehouse shutdowns, urgent disruptions, and production gaps, where the right partner can step in quickly to receive product, correct issues, and keep orders moving. His approach illustrates the role of ERP systems, WMS platforms, Power BI dashboards, SOPs, inspections, and open communication between operations, quality, and client teams in improving visibility, preventing rework, and strengthening execution. In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, host Lisa Kilrea sits down with Wesley Murphy, VP of Operations at Peoria Production Solutions, to discuss how kitting supports supply chain efficiency and operational resilience. They explore how bundled components become unique SKUs, how shared data improves inventory visibility, and how communication strengthens quality, execution, and client partnerships.

    27 min

  2. May 18

    Building Business Through Relationships with Amy Hughes

    Amy Hughes is the Chief Marketing, Ecommerce, and Sales Leader at ClearBags, a leading provider of flexible packaging solutions known for offering more than 5,000 in-stock products and custom packaging options for businesses worldwide. Under her leadership, ClearBags has continued its impressive growth, celebrating more than 34 years in business and expanding its reach to global markets while embracing innovations like AI-driven e-commerce. Amy brings over 25 years of experience in brand marketing and business development, with a proven track record of building strong partnerships and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Passionate about customer relationships and continuous innovation, Amy is deeply committed to understanding evolving buyer behavior and translating those insights into impactful solutions. In this episode… In a crowded digital marketplace, how do businesses stand out when products and services begin to feel interchangeable? Is differentiation still about price and features, or does it now depend on something deeper — like how well a company understands the people it serves? For Amy Hughes, the answer starts with turning the customer's voice into a core driver of growth. Drawing from over 25 years of experience in sales, marketing, and brand leadership, Amy explains that sustainable advantage comes when organizations consistently translate customer insights into tailored solutions that deepen relationships beyond transactions into long-term partnerships. She emphasizes that aligning sales, marketing, and product development is essential to breaking down silos, strengthening collaboration, and accelerating meaningful innovation. Her perspective reflects the reality that today's informed buyers expect a consultative, insight-led experience, raising expectations around education, responsiveness, and expertise at every touchpoint.  In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, host Lisa Kilrea sits down with Amy Hughes, Chief Marketing, Ecommerce, and Sales Leader at ClearBags, and discusses customer-centric innovation in a commoditized industry. They explore how ClearBags is evolving through digital transformation, cross-functional alignment, and the thoughtful use of AI. Amy also shares practical insights on breaking down internal barriers, anticipating customer needs, and strengthening relationships that drive long-term growth.

    38 min

  3. May 11

    Intuition and Innovation: Entrepreneurial Lessons With Laurent Cohen

    Laurent Cohen is the CTO and Co-founder of GetOblic, a voice-first AI platform that deploys pre-trained AI-powered voice receptionists at scale for local businesses, and is a seasoned entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience building and scaling companies across Europe and the United States. Under his leadership, his platforms have launched 1.8 million voice agents, handling hundreds of minutes of daily interactions and making AI-driven growth accessible to businesses of all sizes. Known for his creativity and strong intuition, Laurent builds systems that turn emerging technologies into practical solutions, especially for small, local companies. In this episode… Creativity can be hard to contain inside a traditional career path. For entrepreneurs who sense where technology is headed before the market catches up, how do you know when an opportunity is worth chasing? According to Laurent Cohen, a serial entrepreneur with decades of experience building companies across Europe and the United States, the answer starts with intuition. He shares that every major venture he has built began with a gut feeling, from recognizing the promise of the internet in the 1990s to seeing AI as more than a tool, but a new kind of currency for business growth. His perspective is a reminder that innovation is not just about spotting the next trend; it is about trusting your instincts, reducing friction, and building solutions people can actually use. In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Laurent Cohen, CTO and Co-founder of GetOblic, to discuss intuition, innovation, and AI-driven entrepreneurship. Laurent explores recognizing opportunity early, why AI is a growth engine for small businesses, and how trust shapes adoption. Laurent also shares advice on bootstrapping and building strong partnerships.

    30 min

  4. May 4

    A Human Approach To AI and Modernization With Christopher Carter

    Christopher Carter is the Chairman and CEO of Approyo, Inc., a global SAP, cloud, and AI solutions company that helps organizations migrate, manage, and optimize their SAP environments. With more than 25 years of experience in enterprise technology, Chris is known for guiding businesses through digital transformation, cloud modernization, and AI adoption. He is also a technology entrepreneur, speaker, and best-selling author of the Mastering SAP series, where he shares practical insights on SAP, cloud strategy, and emerging technologies. In this episode… Technology may be changing how businesses operate, but it is not changing the need for trust, leadership, and human connection. As AI and cloud modernization become bigger priorities, how can companies move forward without losing sight of the people guiding that change? For Christopher Carter, the answer starts with "bigger, better, faster, stronger humans leveraging AI." Drawing from his experience as a technology entrepreneur, author, and digital transformation leader, Chris explains that AI works best when companies have internal champions, executive buy-in, clear guardrails, and a willingness to train people rather than replace them. His perspective is a reminder that modernization is not just about adopting new tools; it is about helping teams use those tools with purpose, confidence, and trust. In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Christopher Carter, Chairman and CEO of Approyo, Inc., to discuss a human approach to AI and modernization. They explore AI adoption, SAP cloud migration, and leadership through change. Chris also shares advice on building relationships, culture, and continuous learning.

    31 min

  5. Apr 27

    Turning Messy Data Into Opportunity With Andrew Brooks

    Andrew Brooks is the Founder and CEO of Contextual.io, an AI orchestration platform that helps businesses of all sizes accelerate production-ready AI solutions. He is a serial entrepreneur best known for building and scaling multiple high-growth companies, including SmartThings (acquired by Samsung), and has contributed to billions of connected devices worldwide. A Princeton chemistry graduate and elite endurance athlete, Andrew's leadership blends technical expertise with a passion for innovation and creation. In this episode… Messy data has a reputation for being a liability, something to clean up before any real progress can happen. But what if the very chaos organizations try to avoid is actually where the biggest opportunities live? For Andrew Brooks, the key lies in rethinking how organizations approach complexity. Drawing from his experience as a seasoned technology entrepreneur, he explains that AI thrives in environments where data is unstructured and processes aren't perfectly defined. Rather than waiting for ideal conditions, he points out that AI can normalize and extract value from that messiness, turning overlooked information into actionable insight. The real shift is moving from seeing AI as just a tool for automation to recognizing its potential to unlock entirely new ways of working and creating value. In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Andrew Brooks, Founder and CEO of Contextual.io, to discuss how AI is transforming the way organizations think about messy data. They explore why imperfect data is often more valuable than expected, how AI drives both efficiency and new revenue opportunities, and what businesses get wrong about readiness. Andrew also shares advice on identifying and strengthening competitive moats with AI.

    37 min

  6. Apr 20

    Building Culture During Rapid Change With Chelsea Byers

    Chelsea Byers is the Founder and CEO of JumpPoint Consulting, where she partners with visionary leaders to help early-stage businesses achieve growth, scale, and operational success. With a background in education and technology, Chelsea has played a key role in scaling multiple high-growth companies, authored the book Course Correct, and is recognized for advising executives on resilience and authentic leadership. She brings a unique perspective from her early career as a math teacher, blending analytical rigor with a passion for people and culture. In this episode… Rapid growth has a way of exposing what's really happening beneath the surface of a company. When everything is moving fast and stakes are high, how do leaders build a culture that actually holds up under pressure? For Chelsea Byers, the key lies in being intentional about culture from the very beginning. Drawing from her experience scaling high-growth companies, she explains that strong leaders don't treat culture as a "nice to have," but as a system that requires clear values, shared language, and consistent reinforcement. Without that, she notes, culture defaults to something far less productive — often driven by fear, competition, and misalignment. The takeaway is clear: if leaders don't actively shape culture, it will shape itself, and not always in ways that support long-term success. In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Chelsea Byers, Founder and CEO of JumpPoint Consulting, to discuss building culture during rapid change. They explore maintaining alignment as teams scale, balancing speed with sustainability, and the role of authenticity in leadership. Chelsea also shares insights on building trust and staying grounded in your values while navigating growth.

    31 min

  7. Apr 13

    Advancing Surgical Innovation Through Partnership and Technology With Chris Martin

    Chris Martin is the Vice President of OEM and New Technologies at Thompson Retractor, a company specializing in surgical exposure systems that enable efficient and safe access to anatomy during medical procedures. Under his leadership and with over 15 years at Thompson Retractor, Chris has helped expand the company's reach beyond traditional hospital sales into strategic OEM partnerships with major implant manufacturers, contributing to significant growth and innovation within the industry. In this episode… Innovation in healthcare rarely happens in isolation. It's built through collaboration, trust, and a deep understanding of what surgeons truly need in the operating room. So what does it take to turn partnership into real surgical progress? Drawing from his experience as a leader in surgical product development and collaboration, Chris Martin explains that true innovation comes from aligning expertise. He describes how partnerships allow each side to focus on what they do best, whether that's implants or surgical access, rather than trying to do everything at once. By combining strengths and reducing complexity for surgeons, these collaborations ultimately lead to safer, more efficient procedures and better patient outcomes. In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Chris Martin, Vice President of OEM and New Technologies at Thompson Retractor, to discuss how strategic partnerships drive surgical innovation. They explore the shift from direct sales to OEM collaboration, the role of stability and exposure in surgical success, and how trust fuels long-term adoption. Chris also talks about staying relevant amid emerging technologies like robotics.

    28 min

  8. Apr 6

    Building Customer-Driven Innovation in Industrial Markets With Scott Rolston

    Scott Rolston is the President of Stucchi USA, a leading manufacturer specializing in hydraulic quick disconnect couplings for industries such as construction, agriculture, industrial, and oil and gas. Under Scott's leadership, Stucchi USA has grown from an organic startup to a major player in the fluid power industry, earning recognition for its customer-focused innovation and operational excellence. With over 30 years of experience, Scott combines deep technical knowledge with a passion for building strong relationships across OEMs, distributors, and end users. In this episode… In industrial markets, innovation rarely starts in a lab. It takes shape in the field, shaped by pressure, downtime, and real-world constraints. But what happens when companies truly build solutions around those realities instead of just the product? Drawing from his experience as a seasoned leader in fluid power, Scott Rolston explains that innovation begins by deeply understanding the customer's application, not just the component itself. He emphasizes that what may seem like a simple product often sits at the center of safety, uptime, and productivity challenges once it's exposed to real-world variables like vibration, pressure, and operator behavior. This perspective shifts the focus from selling parts to solving business-critical problems, making innovation more practical, impactful, and aligned with how customers actually operate. In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Scott Rolston, President of Stucchi USA, to discuss building customer-driven innovation in industrial markets. They explore how to differentiate in commoditized spaces, why safety and productivity are reshaping expectations, and how real-world feedback drives product development. Scott also shares insights on turning strong partnerships into a competitive advantage.

    30 min
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About

In Good Company, where relationships drive results, with your host, Lisa Kilrea. In each episode, we explore how great leaders build trust, inspire teams, and turn meaningful connections into real success.

Information

  • Creator
    Lisa Kilrea
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © In Good Company (c) 2025
  • Show Website
    In Good Company