What's Up At Work?

Sam Clyde Schroeder
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Welcome to What's Up At Work?, the podcast that's all about real talk with the company leaders shaping Northeast Ohio's top workplaces. We're diving into the stories, strategies, and sometimes hilarious moments that come with creating the thriving teams that drive the region's most successful businesses forward. Whether it's a CEO sharing their leadership philosophy or an HR exec spilling their best people-first strategies, we're here to give you insights you can actually use to build a better workplace. Hit play, and let's talk about what's really up at work.

  1. MAR 20

    Lauren Reed (CEO, MHEDA): Member Engagement, Measuring Success & the Love of Forklifts

    Timestamps & Topics 00:30 Introduction 01:30 What is Material Handling? 05:00 Moving in to the CEO role 07:15 Adapting to a changing landscape 10:00 Shifting member expectations 12:10 Building community and MHEDA Net Groups 17:00 Growing up in a revenue-driven environment 19:30 Being transparent through transitions 24:00 HR Hot Seat 27:40 Important leadership habits

    32 min

  2. 11/10/2025

    Cindy Torres Essell (Chief People Officer, Heinen’s): Frontline Flexibility, Feedback & Cheese Dip

    Is building a truly great workplace about perks and policies? Or about showing up and listening to the people who make the work happen? Meet Cindy Torres Essell, Chief People Officer at Heinen’s, the family-owned grocery company serving communities across Northeast Ohio. Cindy’s path to leadership didn’t follow a straight line, but each chapter shaped how she leads today: with curiosity, empathy, and a deep respect for her frontline teams. In this episode, Cindy shares how she works to connect corporate offices and stores under one associate-first culture. From spending days in the warehouse and production facilities to rethinking schedules so parents can be there when their kids get off the bus, she shows that culture doesn’t happen in a conference room, it happens by meeting people where they are. She and host Sam Clyde Schroeder talk about what it means to learn the business from the inside out, why flexibility matters more than ever, and how stepping into a new challenge at Heinen’s became the most meaningful experience of her career. Tune in to hear how Cindy is helping Heinen’s strengthen community, empower associates, and continue a tradition of care from store floor to leadership table.   01:00 Introductions 02:00 Cindy’s background and path to HR 04:00 The Heinen’s offer 08:00 The First 90 Days 09:00 Creating unity across departments 12:00 Improving flexibility for associates 15:00 Avoiding burnout   21:00 Performance management and providing feedback   27:00 Becoming the Board Chair of Jumpstart 30:00 HR Hot Seat; Staying true to yourself, Heinen’s must-haves, diving in

    36 min

  3. 10/20/2025

    Austin Merk (President, Universal Oil): Taking Big Swings, Defining Culture & Chili Cookoffs

    Meet Austin Merk, President of Universal Oil, a nearly 150-year-old, 100% employee-owned organization. Universal Oil is a distributor of fuels and industrial lubricants serving customers across construction, manufacturing, and transportation, right here in Cleveland. In this episode, Austin shares what it looks like when a new leader takes the helm of a long-standing company and starts shaping its culture for the future. His story shows that building a great workplace doesn’t have to be complicated; small, intentional steps that bring people together and make work enjoyable can spark real lasting change. He joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to talk about how an ownership mindset drives employee engagement, why food is the great equalizer (yes, that includes company cook-offs!), and how bold moves, from tattoos to grand proposals, reflect a culture of trust and taking risks. Tune in to hear how Austin is helping Universal Oil keep its roots strong while fueling a new era of leadership and culture. Timestamps 01:00 Introductions01:30 Austin’s background and original life path03:00 Proposing at a Cleveland Guardians game05:00 The benefits and consequences of risk-taking06:00 Advocating for yourself, “Closed mouths don’t get fed”07:00 Leading a 150-year-old company, and ‘We’ve always done it this way”09:30 People-first culture and ESOP definition and benefits12:30 Bringing people together and creating culture13:40 Using food as a culture builder and equalizer, company cookoffs and employee engagement16:30 Making small, intentional changes and listening to employees19:20 Growing in confidence as a young leader, being patient21:00 The ability to ask dumb questions, wear it on your sleeve23:00 I didn’t come this far to only come this far, the job is never done24:30 Being a first-time NorthCoast 99 Top Workplace winner 27:30 Building out HR and engaging within the company 30:00 HR Hot Seat: Big Blue Nation, tattoos, bread puddingERC: yourerc.com Universal Oil: universaloil.com

    35 min

  4. 10/08/2025

    Kevin Clayton (Chief Impact & Equity Officer, Cleveland Cavaliers): Diversity, Drive & Donovan Mitchell

    What if your DEI work came with a revenue target, developed your next leaders, and grew the business at the same time? Kevin Clayton, Executive Vice President & Chief Impact and Equity Officer at the Cleveland Cavaliers, joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to show how DEI has become a core business strategy. Kevin breaks down equity as fixing systems like feedback, hiring, promotions, and compensation so people can do their best work. He shares how the Cavs tie impact to revenue scorecards, develop a leadership bench through the IDEAL Team, and steady culture after a tough playoff exit. We also dig into player-led community impact (including a scholarship partnership with Donovan Mitchell’s foundation and Huntington Bank), supplier diversity that gives back, the data behind theme nights, and why the right retail strategy moves real merchandise and fan engagement. Timestamps 00:00 Intros & why “diversity as a lens” beats “diversity as a program” 01:00 Kevin’s path from P&G sales to people & culture 03:05 Defining terms: diversity, inclusion → belonging; equity as system-leveling 05:10 The systems view: feedback, hiring, promotions, pay, and why people aren’t the “problem” 06:20 “Leverage diversity as a business strategy”: tying impact to growth and KPIs 08:05 Examples: supplier diversity, demographic retail strategy, authentic theme nights 10:00 What the data showed (and why Pride/Women’s/Heritage nights lift merch & engagement) 12:00 Culture during losing seasons: the 90-day assessment and launching the IDEAL Team 16:10 Retention gaps for women/POC → EmpowHer TMRG and external leadership opportunities 18:20 Renaming HR to People & Culture: signals, scope, and shared ownership of culture 20:00 Leading through a playoff exit: grief, recovery rituals, and end-of-season recognition 24:00 Player voice to impact: passion mapping, foundations, and a SPIDACARES x Huntington x Cavs scholarship 26:00 HR Hot Seat highlights: leading from the front and the rear; everyday acts of courage Links: ERC: https://www.yourerc.comCleveland Cavaliers: https://www.nba.com/cavaliers

    35 min

  5. 09/10/2025

    Lisa Damour, PhD (Psychologist & Author): Defining Mental Health, Embracing Good Stress & Lessons from _Inside Out_

    She talks with host Sam Clyde Schroeder about simple ways to tell when work is merely uncomfortable versus truly unmanageable, how to design wellness efforts that actually help, what Gen Z needs to thrive, and how to better support working parents. Timestamps 00:00 Welcome and why mental health shows up in performance, retention, and leadership01:00 Meet Dr. Lisa Damour and her focus on turning emotion into action03:00 What science says about stress and anxiety, and why that matters for managers05:00 A clear definition of mental health, feelings that fit the moment and healthy coping07:00 Generational differences, setting expectations without dismissing concerns10:00 What good wellness programs look like, real tools that aid recovery11:30 The strength training idea, growth requires stress and planned recovery14:30 Gen Z at work, culture, mentorship, and why in-person time still matters17:00 Helpful stress versus harmful stress, preventing chronic overload and burnout27:00 Working parents, the role of sleep, technology’s upsides and downsides, peer groupsIf this conversation helps you build a healthier workplace, please follow or subscribe to What’s Up at Work? Your feedback helps other leaders find the show. Links ERC: https://www.yourerc.comDr. Lisa Damour: https://drlisadamour.com

    35 min

  6. 08/12/2025

    Jess Jung (President, Oswald Companies): Magnetic Culture, Game-Changing Insurance & Superpowers

    In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Jessica Jung, President of Oswald Companies, to talk about her path to leading one of the country’s top insurance firms. Jessica shares how rolling up your sleeves can model the kind of leadership people want to follow, how to find anyone’s “superpower,” and how leaders can create safe environments where people feel comfortable challenging the process. And don’t miss how she realized that outworking everyone isn’t sustainable (sound familiar?). This episode is part leadership masterclass, part reality check, and all about building a workplace people are drawn to. Timestamps & Topics 00:54 Jessica’s nontraditional career path to business 03:00 Managing people right out of college 05:45 The moment that changed her career trajectory (and her confidence) 10:58 Why “rolling up your sleeves” still matters in leadership 13:25 Advice for those stuck between wanting to grow and needing to keep learning 14:40 The importance of inviting doers and diverse voices into decision-making 16:40 How Oswald helps employees discover and apply their “superpowers” 19:10 What it takes to create a culture where people feel safe speaking up 22:00 Behind Oswald’s big move to a new HQ 25:00 What it means to be an employee-owner 27:30 How to make a less-than-glamorous industry feel magnetic 32:00 Supporting women and underrepresented voices 33:10 HR Hot Seat: Mel Robbins, staying grounded, and how to stop working your life away If you liked this episode, be sure to follow What’s Up at Work? wherever you get your podcasts. And if you’re enjoying the show, leave us a review or share it with a colleague, it helps more listeners discover the conversations we're having with real leaders building better workplaces. 🔗 Learn more about ERC: https://www.yourerc.com 🔗 Visit Oswald Companies: https://www.oswaldcompanies.com

    39 min

  7. 07/23/2025

    Dave Banyard (CEO, MasterBrand, Inc.): Fighter Jets, Bold Leadership & Lessons from Winston Churchill

    There’s a side of military leadership most people never see—one built on trust, delegation, and learning through failure. Dave Banyard brings those lessons straight into his position as CEO. In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Dave Banyard, President and CEO of MasterBrand, the largest residential cabinet manufacturer in North America. Before running a multi-billion-dollar company, Dave flew F/A-18 fighter jets for the U.S. Navy, and he brings a refreshingly candid take on leadership, decision-making, and culture from the cockpit to the factory floor. Hear how Dave translates military lessons into business leadership, builds trust across thousands of employees, and empowers his employees to make bold decisions. You’ll get his thoughts on delegation, transparency, coaching, and why being a CEO is a lot like building a jigsaw puzzle while finding all of the pieces. Timestamps 00:50 Dave’s path from fighter pilot to CEO 03:00 Motivating 18-year-olds to clean toilets and why presence matters in leadership 07:50 “No ranks in the air”: Decentralized decision-making and trust under pressure 09:30 Translating military purpose into company culture at MasterBrand 11:00 Why every process can be examined and designed for a better outcome 13:40 How manufacturing and military environments are more similar than you’d think 15:30 Breaking the habit of “delegating up” and teaching decision ownership 20:00 Transparency, failure, and why dancing around problems kills progress 22:30 Why every CEO needs a coach (and how Dave uses his) 25:00 The Churchill-inspired communication strategy Dave uses with his team 29:30 Becoming a public company: Dave’s take on leadership through transition 33:00 Redefining career paths with experiences over titles If you liked what you heard, be sure to subscribe to What’s Up at Work? and leave a quick review, it helps others find us and keeps these conversations going. New episodes come out regularly with insights from real leaders making an impact in their workplaces. 🔗 Learn more about ERC: www.yourerc.com 🔗 Visit MasterBrand: www.masterbrand.com

    40 min

  8. 06/25/2025

    Micki Byrnes (CCO, Adcom & Former President, WKYC) - Forest Rangers, ‘Good Cop’ & The Garage Test

    What's Up At Work?

    42 min
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About

Welcome to What's Up At Work?, the podcast that's all about real talk with the company leaders shaping Northeast Ohio's top workplaces. We're diving into the stories, strategies, and sometimes hilarious moments that come with creating the thriving teams that drive the region's most successful businesses forward. Whether it's a CEO sharing their leadership philosophy or an HR exec spilling their best people-first strategies, we're here to give you insights you can actually use to build a better workplace. Hit play, and let's talk about what's really up at work.

Information

  • Creator
    Sam Clyde Schroeder
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    16
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 ERC
  • Show Website
    What's Up At Work?