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. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 06/25/2025

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

    What's Up At Work?

    42 min

  8. 06/04/2025

    Kelly Keefe (President & CEO, ERC): Networking Hacks, Leading with Curiosity & Strangers on the Ski Lift

    Kelly Keefe, President and CEO of ERC, shares the highs and lows of stepping into a new leadership role 30 days before the world shut down. She also shares strategies she’s used to connect more deeply, lead more intentionally, and tap into the power of her peers. You’ll hear about her non-traditional career path from Deloitte consultant to part-time HR volunteer to leading ERC, and how she navigated the organization through the worst of the pandemic. Kelly also shares why she believes data-driven decision-making is the secret sauce behind building better workplaces. During the conversation, she dives into lessons learned from her kids, explains how she structures her week to stay confident walking into any room, and gives insight into creating safe spaces for CEOs to swap stories (even tough ones like handling layoffs with dignity). Timestamps: 1:00 Career path and non-traditional entry into HR: Kelly’s journey from Deloitte to eight hours a week at ERC, eventually growing into a full-time leadership role. 3:00 Taking the CEO role just before COVID: stepping into a new leadership role in January 2020 and managing ERC’s shifting business model. 6:00 Shifting from reactive to proactive leadership: what “recovering” looked like by 2022 and why moving past return-to-office debates was important. 8:00 Building a professional network as a business strategy: why Kelly dedicates roughly 30 percent of her role to networking, and how she balances travel-heavy relationship-building with a leadership team she trusts. 11:00 Walking into any room with confidence: Kelly’s Sunday calendar prep ritual, scouting attire, looking up LinkedIn profiles, and her “look people in the eye” mantra her dad instilled. 13:00 Creating CEO peer groups and tackling layoffs: why it’s lonely at the top, how peer conversations help shape messaging for employees impacted by cuts, and why it’s important for leaders to have sounding boards. 17:00 Data-driven decision-making at ERC: how Kelly uses NorthCoast 99 survey data, compensation benchmarks, and ERC engagement scores to guide everything from mental health days to compensation philosophy. 20:00 Learning from the next generation: how Kelly’s son Connor runs a $2.7 million student-led venture at the University of Dayton, and why CEOs should listen to what young people are doing in business. 22:00 Trusted advisors outside the workplace: the value of gut checks with fellow CEOs, how to keep feedback confidential, and why “control what you can control” is important. 24:00 HR Hot Seat rapid-fire: pick-up-the-phone lessons; mom’s advice to “be stubborn enough to make it work”; core value of “facts over noise”; what drives Kelly crazy (left-lane slowpokes); and the wisest thing her kids have said. If Kelly’s perspective on leading through uncertainty, creating intentional peer spaces, or using data to build better cultures resonated, please subscribe to What’s Up at Work? and leave a review. It helps us reach more HR and business leaders who are looking for real-world strategies to improve their workplaces.

    33 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
    2K
  • Episodes
    15
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 ERC
  • Show Website
    What's Up At Work?