Matt Dailey: Due Diligence, Discipline and the Magic of a Midday Stretch

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 executive.

You’ll hear how Matt targeted acquisition opportunities with disciplined daily outreach, won over a team through humility and trust, and then introduced a data-driven mindset into a 85-year-old chemical business—complete with digital scheduling, real-time dashboards, and an engagement reboot.

Episode Highlights and Timestamps:

00:00 Introduction & Matt’s winding path from PE advisor to CEO
01:00 Why stepping into manufacturing “transcends industry” fundamentals
02:00 The six-month “dating process”: 10 outreaches a day until Royal Chemical
04:00 Winning employee trust on day one (and why that matters)
12:00 Resetting engagement post-COVID with engagement surveys
14:00 Moving from paper-based to digital workflows on the plant floor
19:00 Tangible wins: shortening setup times and reducing rework
22:00 Advice for owners eyeing automation—expect friction, recruit the right champion
29:00 HR Hot Seat rapid-fire: caffeine, curveballs, and “I trust you” moments

Explore Royal Chemical’s custom manufacturing solutions at https://www.royalchemical.com.

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Author

Sam Clyde Schroeder

Sam Clyde Schroeder is Vice President, Sales & Marketing at ERC, where she leads the organization’s revenue strategy and brand growth. She oversees both the sales and marketing teams, focusing on expanding ERC’s reach, strengthening relationships with employers across Northeast Ohio, and ensuring the organization continues to deliver meaningful value to its members and partners.

Sam is also the host of ERC’s What’s Up at Work? podcast, where she speaks with leaders from major Northeast Ohio employers and institutions about leadership, workplace culture, and how organizations are navigating the changing world of work.

Sam holds a Master of Business Administration from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Science in Comprehensive Design from the University of Cincinnati. She also serves on the board of the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning (CAL), a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping students build confidence, creativity, and critical thinking through arts-based learning.

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