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 … Read more
Editor’s Note: In response to continued program growth and limited remaining funds for the current fiscal year, TechCred is not accepting applications as of January 1, 2026. Check the OhioTech Cred website regularly for updates on future application rounds. If you’ve been planning on upskilling your workforce, or even if you weren’t, now might be a … Read more
What convinced Matt Dailey to leave private equity and buy a chemical company on a handshake deal—would you take that leap? In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde Schroeder sits down with Matt Dailey, President and CEO of Royal Chemical, to talk about his bold transition from investment banker to manufacturing … Read more
Is it possible for a nonprofit to pay above-market wages and still thrive? Kristin Warzocha, President and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Food Bank, says yes—and she’s got the results to prove it. In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, Kristin joins host Sam Clyde Schroeder to talk about building an award-winning culture in … Read more
Most individuals leave a training session energized, only to walk back into an overflowing inbox, tight deadlines, and routines that pull them right back into old habits. Without a chance to put new ideas to work, they fade fast. That’s why training has to include real‑world practice. In our recent “What’s Up at Work?” podcast, … Read more
When employees aren’t fully engaged, productivity drops, team morale suffers, and turnover can spike. But even small initiatives—like recognition programs or flexible scheduling—can spark measurable improvements in employee motivation, collaboration, and retention. In this post, you’ll find over 30 practical ideas, from training to team-building, all designed to boost employee engagement. Key Engagement Initiatives Leadership … Read more
“Leaders create the weather.” That simple mindset, along with setting clear leadership expectations, continuous development, and defining the ideal leader can help you bridge the gap between training and real performance. Join host Sam Clyde Schroeder as she sits down with Scott Allen, PhD—a leadership consultant, educator, keynote speaker, and podcast host. In this episode, … Read more
We recently talked with Chris Adams, CEO of Park Place Technologies, about strategies to support your workforce and keep them involved, even during leaves of absence. During our conversation, Chris explained the need to rethink traditional leave policies. He described a familiar challenge his company once faced: “We would have great employees who would leave … Read more
Can you grow a business without losing what makes it great? Scaling doesn’t have to mean sacrificing culture. The key is prioritizing people, connections, and the values that got you there in the first place. In our latest episode of “What’s Up at Work?” we talked with Chris Adams, President and CEO of Park Place … Read more
Most compensation reviews get scheduled the same way every year and then get rescheduled the minute something changes. A key hire walks out the door, a competitor raises offers in your market, or a new pay transparency law kicks in. The cadence question matters, but it’s the wrong place to start. The better question is … Read more
You know how challenging it can be to develop a compensation strategy that continuously attracts and retains the talent you need. By learning from the approaches used by top-performing organizations, you’ll find some practical ways to design your pay practices. In this post, we’ll cover the best of the best, including building a clear compensation … Read more
Is your hiring process losing you top talent before you even make an offer? If you’re still waiting to “see just one more candidate,” you might already be too late. In this episode of What’s Up at Work?, host Sam Clyde-Schroeder sits down with Blake Babcock, Vice President of Client Engagement at Staffing Solutions Enterprises, … Read more
