Mitch Leahy welcomes Casey Lowery, President of Applied Innovation, a family-owned office technology provider serving Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, and Florida with technology, imaging, and automation solutions.
Casey grew up learning the business from his father, John Lowery, and always knew he wanted to follow in his footsteps. In this episode, he shares lessons from growing up in a family business, his leadership journey, and what it means to take on ownership while staying committed to keeping Applied Innovation family-owned.
Mitch hosts Ashley Carnes, Chief Strategy Officer at Impact Networking—one of the fastest-growing managed services providers in the nation. Ashley’s passion for lifelong learning and servant leadership earned her recognition as a 2024 Young Influencer by The Cannata Report. She shares her unexpected journey from an entry-level sales rep to leadership, emphasizing the role strong mentors had on her development and how motherhood shaped her empathetic and curious approach to leadership.
Mitch is joined by Brantly Fowler, Co-President of ZENO Office Solutions in West Texas. Brantly shares his journey from doing odd jobs in the ZENO warehouse as a kid to leading the company as Co-President. Along the way, he discusses the "V-Formation" of people who have influenced his life, his no-excuses mentality, and how those principles have shaped a career built on humility, commitment, and ownership. Brantly also reflects on the importance of strong relationships in the office technology industry and how he has cultivated and maintained those connections throughout his career.
As Channel Development Manager at ConnectWise, and daughter of industry icon, Mike Stramaglio, Jenna has grown up in the business. For nearly two decades, Jenna has become entrenched in the industry, juggling a rigorous travel schedule to stay in-tune to the ever-evolving office technology landscape. She shares some of the lessons she’s learned when it comes to developing her confidence and overcoming anxiety around public speaking. Jenna also offers her perspective on “the changing of the guard,” as legacy leaders begin passing the baton to the next wave of Gen X and Millennial leaders.
Mitch chats with Tyler Grigsby, President of Fisher's Technology, an office technology provider based in Boise, Idaho. Tyler shares his unique journey from Fisher's customer to company president, discussing how his background in finance, combined with strong soft skills, helped shape his leadership style. He reflects on lessons learned from sports, early jobs, and career setbacks, and explains how hard work, curiosity, and a passion for helping others have driven his success.
Mitch is joined by sibling duo Kennedi Aguilar-Varing, Controller, and Sloan Varing, Vice President of IBE Digital in California. They share their journey growing up 13 months apart in a family business, pursuing separate paths after college, and ultimately returning to IBE. Kennedi and Sloan discuss how their complementary personalities and roles help drive the company's success while balancing family and business.
Mitch sits down with Gregory Jacobs, President of Infomax Office Systems, to discuss his journey in the family business. Gregory shares how experiences both inside and outside Infomax shaped his leadership style, the transition to leading the company after his father's retirement, and the value of mentorship in professional growth. He also offers advice on leading with confidence, honesty, and transparency while preparing the company for the future.
Mitch is joined by Lauren Hanna, President of Blue Technologies Smart Solutions in Cleveland, Ohio. Lauren shares her journey from entry-level sales representative to company president, discussing how communication, leadership, and adaptability have shaped her success. She also reflects on leading in a traditionally male-dominated industry, balancing motherhood and career, and helping build the next generation of leaders.
