Level Up Podcast Nick Araco

In March 2020, brothers Kaleb and Kolby Rush lost their internships with the onset of the pandemic. They decided to put their skills and knowledge to good use. Alongside their dad, they spent months perfecting their five-ingredient, human-grade, meat-based dog treat recipes. With a passion for entrepreneurship, a love for dogs, and their unique knowledge of dog treat craftsmanship, Kaleb and Kolby got down to business and co-founded Saint Rocco’s Treats. They’re focused on opening 15 Saint Rocco's kitchens by 2030.
Kaleb Rush is also the Production Manager at Prime Packaging Partners LLC. Kaleb graduated from the Fox School of Business at Temple University with a major in supply chain management and a minor in entrepreneurship, selling skills, and sales operations. He is also the Recruitment Chairman for Delta Chi, where he developed a recruitment strategy and successfully onboarded 20 new members to help grow its colony and build Delta Chi's brand on campus.
Kolby Rush sharpened his practical understanding of the business world as an Associate Consultant for Chess Consulting LLC, an Intern at Primerica, and by working for his dad at American Butcher Brand. Kolby received a bachelor’s degree from Penn State University with a major in finance and a minor in economics. He also studied abroad in Germany at Pforzheim University, learning business and economics.
In this episode… Your four-legged friend has always been there with a gentle nose and a warm heart, so how can you make sure you’re catering to your pet’s dietary needs? What steps can you take to ensure an authentic consumer experience across various touch points?
When Kaleb and Kobly Rush began their dog treat brand, they were certain about one thing — dogs deserve better. By bootstrapping their brand, they control the ingredients that go into each treat, so man’s best friend will only get top ingredients. Kaleb and Kolby enhanced their marketing recipe by using a genuine approach to reach their target audience and make a positive impact in their community by donating $1 to local dog rescues for every pound of treats sold. Bring tail wags to your home with this episode. 
In this episode of Level Up, Nick Araco is joined by Kaleb and Kolby Rush, Founders of Saint Rocco’s Treats, to discuss the commitment and passion behind creating a pet food brand. Together, they talk about launching a human-grade dog food brand, why authenticity has a greater impact on consumers, and why remaining committed to your values is essential.

May Thao-Schuck, EdD, is the Vice President of Career and Professional Development at St. Catherine University. With a strong background in leading and advancing teams and organizations, May successfully propels growth through innovative strategic organization and business design. She was previously the Divisional Director of Workforce Development Employment and Training Programs at the Minnesota Department of Employment and the Director of Organizational Development for Training and Development at ActivStyle.
She earned her doctorate in organization development and change from the University of St. Thomas, an MBA from Argosy University, and her bachelor’s in therapeutic recreation and recreational therapy from the University of Minnesota. May is an active board member at the Minnesota State High School League and CommonBond Communities.
In this episode… Making difficult decisions and recognizing when it's time to pivot can be challenging for leaders. How can you embrace a diverse talent pool to create a stronger team and work environment?
When statistics show that within the first 18 months, 40% of internal promotions and 55% of outside hires leave, how can you equip your organization with the right systems and processes to assemble lasting leadership? For May Thao-Schuck, EdD, the answer may be surprising: holistic positioning. Positioning leaders based on foundational career competencies and adaptability can set up organizations for success. If you want your organization to become successful, begin with your leadership.
In this episode of Level Up, Nick Araco sits down with May Thao-Schuck, EdD, Vice President of Career and Professional Development at St. Catherine University, to discuss cultivating a workplace with equity and opportunity. May talks about the impact employees make on the workforce environment, challenges organizations face while handling human capital, and how to empower leaders for generations to come.

Ginny Clarke is the CEO of Ginny Clarke, LLC. She is a talent strategist and organizational builder who provides insights to some of the world's leading executive search firms and technology companies. She recently started her consultancy, where she speaks, writes, and hosts the Fifth Dimensional Leadership podcast.
She was the Director of Leadership Staffing and led diversity and internal mobility and non-tech recruiting teams at Google for nearly five years. As a seasoned executive recruiter, Ginny possesses a singular approach to leadership assessment, diversity, recruiting, and talent management that is sought after by her peers.
In this episode… An overlooked aspect of leadership is found in recruitment. More than merely focusing on the hiring process, great leaders can enable, nurture, and welcome new people into their teams. This slight shift into conscious leadership starts from the very beginning and runs through the entire relationship. However, this is easier said than done.
Ginny Clarke is aware of the difficulties of conscious leadership and has positioned her career towards helping others develop that mindset. She has worked with powerful brands like Google and Spencer Stuart, growing a thorough approach to recruiting and diversity. Now she explains her ideas to you.
In this episode of Level Up, Nick Araco talks with Ginny Clarke, CEO of Ginny Clarke, LLC, about recruiting, growing, and conscious leading. They begin with Ginny’s career path and the story that made her the leader she is today. She then dives into greater detail on executive recruiting, developing an internal mobility and diversity team at Google, and knowing the difference between managing and leading. Check out the full episode for all of this and more!

Reyn Holden is the Head of Finance and Accounting at Truebill, a finance company that manages subscriptions, improves credit scores, tracks spending, and builds budgets for consumers. He is a Global Advisory Board Member at AchieveNEXT and the Owner of Quintessence Properties I.
Reyn led a team of internal and external staff supporting the technology acquired by Rocket Companies and helped Truebill become a member of the Rocket team. He is experienced in the finance sector and was previously the Lead Data Financial Analyst for the Virginia Regional Transit, a Consultant at LMI, Head of FP&A for Great Minds, and a Consultant for Clarendon Partners, LLC.
In this episode… How can you communicate financial information that satisfies the appetite? What can you do to align objectives with financial goals for a product-driven company?
Reyn Holden says the simplest way is not to overwhelm your clients with too much information. Effective communication requires tailoring and altering your message to a given audience. If your audience doesn't have the same level of understanding, you must express your message by directing it to the information that they want and need to know. Not everyone is a financial expert, so you must voice what's necessary to validate the next steps a business wants to take. Strategic business initiatives are built on the backs of financial information and assessing the risks and rewards of those decisions. Reyn helps translate the company’s financial needs and the desires of its product and brand-building goals, so the two form a cohesive strategy and set the company up to become an enduring enterprise. 
On this episode of Level Up, Nick Araco sits down with Reyn Holden, Head of Finance and Accounting at Truebill, to discuss authenticating and improving your business results. Reyn talks about examining the long-term success of your product, how to communicate financial needs effectively, and the steps you can take to balance a company’s financial and operational needs.

Misty Law Flurry is an accomplished human resources leader who brings over 20 years of experience to her position as Director of Talent Solutions at AchieveNEXT, a company that helps businesses achieve performance goals and outcomes through its peer communities, data, insights, and talent solutions. Misty’s years of experience enabled her to garner specialization in cultural transformation, organizational and executive development, and inclusive leadership. To put it simply, Misty is a champion for the people. Additionally, Misty has held senior HR roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), Mellon, and Xerox.
Milton Corsey brings over 20 years of experience to his role as Director of Human Capital Solutions at AchieveNEXT. In his role, Milton leads the leadership and management development practice. His experience and life lessons have led him to pen articles for acclaimed publications such as Harvard Business Review and Middle Market Growth. Milton is revered as a skilled facilitator who can break down complex concepts to help the diverse audiences he serves.
In this episode… Have you overcome struggles and challenges to become the person you are today? Having the courage to sift through the trials and tribulations of life shapes you at your core. And you can use your triumphs and failures as tools to help others.
You don’t have to have a colorful life to offer the world your talents or the lessons you’ve learned. Milton Corsey and Misty Law Flurry have unique backgrounds and have used their life lessons to become better leaders and serve their clients at a high level. Through their experiences, they’ve learned how to ask questions and listen to arrive at meaningful solutions using the empathy they’ve discovered inside themselves. They’ve learned to draw on the inspiration of the people they admire, pivot and change course when needed, live life with intention, and put in the work. Milton and Misty have applied their talents to their careers and have evolved and grown as people and leaders regardless of what curves life has thrown in their paths because they aren’t afraid of change and hold true to their values. In an ever-changing world that throws continuous obstacles at us, it is evident that we must become comfortable with the one constant in life — change.
In this episode of Level Up, Nick Araco sits down with Misty Law Flurry, Director of Talent Solutions, and Milton Corsey, Director of Human Capital Solutions at AchieveNEXT, to examine the ingredients that go into helping their clients. How do they do it? From sharing their own journeys, Misty and Milton talk about life lessons, what inspires them, and how they drew from tough experiences that helped shape their lives.

Steve Dobbins is the Founder and CEO of The Dobbins Group Inc., a full-service agency solving marketing and communications challenges for clients worldwide. He is a seasoned marketing and communications professional and has worked side-by-side with CEOs to help build their brands for over twenty years. Steve was the Co-founder of revolucion LA, the Senior Vice President of Member Engagement at Vistage, the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for the Young Presidents' Organization, Inc., and the Owner of Spin Creative.
In this episode… Every brand has a story, and as a leader, how can you effectively communicate and embrace the story you want to be told? How can you leverage your story into a marketing strategy that ties into your business plan?
You can’t be an effective leader if you don’t look at your company’s long-term vision — and it begins with marketing strategies. Authenticity and integrity are at the heart of Steve Dobbins’ work. He has a passion for transforming a business into an enduring enterprise through marketing strategies, and he has helped many companies pivot and expand their talent pools and networks. So, how can you develop and execute a marketing strategy for long-term success?
In this episode of Level Up, Nick Araco sits down with Steve Dobbins, Founder and CEO of The Dobbins Group Inc., to discuss translating your brand’s authenticity through marketing channels. Steve talks about his valuable background in journalism, bridging generational gaps, and why an advisory organization is a beneficial tool for discovering learning opportunities.