Success Beneath the Surface

John D. Smith has led turnarounds across nine industries, from consumer retail to Caesars Entertainment, where he moved from retail executive to resort CEO in under five months. Raised in the Philadelphia projects and later a Harvard Business School graduate, Smith joins Deborah Fell to trace how football discipline, McKinsey training, and firsthand experience on factory floors and casino floors shaped his leadership approach. Smith breaks down his three-to-five-year transformation model: diagnose how the business generates cash, right-size the infrastructure, then rebuild trust with frontline teams before any strategy sticks. His core belief is that organizations only transform once their people do, and leadership is a behavior, not a position. This conversation covers what it really means to show up as a leader, why he treats every employee like a volunteer, and the discipline required to do the unglamorous work no one is watching.   Takeaways Early-life adversity and constant change can become a foundation for adaptive leadership later in life. Real transformation requires sequencing: first the reason why, then mindset, then skill set, then tool set — skipping ahead only produces short-term compliance. Even high-level leadership requires deliberate, curated support systems, since the role itself is structurally isolating. Physically showing up and working alongside frontline staff builds trust and surfaces problems no spreadsheet will reveal. The strongest cultures are the ones employees are excited to be part of, not just compliant with. John D. Smith is a transformational leader with more than 25 years of experience across multiple industries and functional disciplines, he has built a reputation for driving growth, operational excellence, and high-performing teams. A lifelong athlete and competitor, Smith's drive to excel began with humble beginnings and earned him a scholarship to a prestigious private school, a Division I football scholarship, admission to Harvard Business School, and leadership opportunities with organizations including GE, Merck, IBM, McKinsey & Company, Target, and Caesars Entertainment. Throughout his career, Smith has embraced a simple leadership philosophy: organizations don't transform until people do. He is known for inspiring individuals and teams to unlock their potential, build winning cultures, and achieve extraordinary results. John has served in CEO and senior executive roles across the retail, hospitality, entertainment, and service sectors. He holds a bachelor's degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Temple University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. “John shows initiative, uses data and builds teams.  He is a talented and effective executive with great leadership skills” – CEO / Board Chairman publicly traded company “John is a unique talent.  He combines high IQ (analytical and conceptual) with high EQ (incredible ability to connect and motivate people)” – Partner, Strategic Consulting Firm / Board Member “I was drawn to invest in John because of his business acumen, intellect, leadership skills, strength as an operator, and ability to articulate his vision with clarity and enthusiasm.” – Managing Partner, Venture Capital Firm  

Ravi Venkatesan took Cantaloupe from nearly $400 million in accumulated losses to profitability in three years, grew the stock from $2.75 to $11.20, and is now completing a take-private exit. Before all of that, he tried to make it as a cruise ship chef and spent four years playing guitar in jazz bands — which, it turns out, says everything about how he thinks. On this episode of Success Beneath the Surface, Ravi and Deborah Fell get into what actually drives that track record: how he thinks about business model disruption before it arrives, why successful companies quietly stop taking the risks that made them successful, and why isolating innovation in a special department almost always backfires. They also don't avoid the hard conversation. Ravi's prediction on AI and workforce displacement is not a soft one. Neither is his advice to the CEOs listening about what leading through it actually requires. About Deborah's guest: Ravi Venkatesan was named CEO and a member of the Board of Directors at Cantaloupe in September 2022, after serving as COO and CTO. He's responsible for leadership of the company’s architecture, development, network and business operations, product teams, as well as customer success. A proven leader with extensive expertise in product development, information systems, software development and program management, Mr. Venkatesan brings more than 20 years of experience in driving innovative change within technology environments. Mr. Venkatesan graduated from Bangalore University with a degree in Electronics and completed a Postgraduate Program in Finance and Information Management at the Management Development Institute. Ravi's LinkedIn:   https://www.linkedin.com/in/ravivenkatesan/ About Cantaloupe: Cantaloupe builds the technology that powers self-service retail — from vending machines and office markets to small, checkout-free stores in places like campuses, apartments, and workplaces. Their platform brings together payments, software, and data so these businesses can operate efficiently, adapt quickly, and grow without unnecessary complexity. For consumers, that means fast, easy, cashless purchases. For businesses, it means clearer insight into what’s working and what’s next. Cantaloupe is helping modernize how self-service retail works in a more on-demand world. Learn more at cantaloupe.com.  

Nancy and Ron Bogart have been married since 1989, started their first business together in 1992, and somewhere along the way figured out something most business owners spend decades chasing: how to build something real and keep it going. Nancy is the founder and CEO of Jordan Essentials, a 26-year-old direct sales company based in Nixa, Missouri, that manufactures and ships non-toxic personal care products — lotions, scrubs, soaps, magnesium sprays — and supports thousands of independent consultants across all 50 states. Ron spent 13 years taking a sole proprietorship to an employee-owned company of 220, tripling both its size and share price along the way. Three of their four children work at Jordan Essentials. The fourth works with Ron. They are, as Deborah puts it, a power couple — not in the surface-level sense, but in the way that two people who genuinely like each other make better decisions together than either would alone. This conversation covers a lot of ground: how a children's book about lavender spray and a monster under the bed became a real business product, why Nancy doubled her revenue in a sector that is not seeing a rising tide, what the Judgment Index revealed about a hire Ron almost didn't question, and why Ron ignored a book recommendation from his wife for five years before it changed everything. Ron's new book, A Heartbeat Away, arrives in April 2026. It's a fable — mostly made up, he says, except for the parts that are true. The story behind it spans more than a decade. When Ron first took on the CEO role at his current company, the outgoing owner had a heart attack eight months into the transition, forcing Ron to take over much faster than anyone planned. He navigated that successfully. Then, eleven months before this recording, Ron had open heart surgery of his own — unplanned, and a direct test of whether his own succession systems were ready. They weren't fully ready. His argument in the book: succession plans fail not because people don't care, but because a plan that isn't embedded in a living operating system isn't really a plan at all. Ron had lived that truth from both sides of the table. If you run a business, lead a team, or are somewhere in the middle of figuring out what sustainable growth actually looks like — this one's for you. Meet Ron & Nancy Bogart: Nancy Bogart is the Founder and CEO of Jordan Essentials, a family-owned, American-made wellness and skincare company she started over 25 years ago at her kitchen table. Known for pioneering magnesium-based products and clean, non-toxic formulations, Nancy has built a thriving direct sales company rooted in integrity, faith, and empowerment. She is a passionate leader, speaker, and mentor who believes business should be both profitable and purpose-driven. A wife, mom, and CEO entreprenuer, Nancy loves encouraging others to lead with heart, resilience, and vision while building something that truly lasts. Ron Bogart is the Chief Executive Officer of Gold Mechanical. Since 2012, he has led the organization through its transition from a sole proprietorship to a 100% employee-owned ESOP. Under his leadership, Gold Mechanical has doubled in size, expanded its locations, and tripled its share value. Ron holds a Doctor of Strategic Leadership, a Master of Organizational Leadership, and a Bachelor of Business Administration—all from Evangel University—where he has also served as an adjunct professor in the Graduate Business Studies program and the College of Online Learning for nine years. An entrepreneur at heart, Ron launched his first company at age 23; it continues to operate today under its third ownership group. Since 2000, he and his wife Nancy have owned Jordan Essentials, a nationwide manufacturing and sales company that continues to thrive and grow. Ron and Nancy have four adult children, ages 28–32. After spending time building their own careers elsewhere, all four are now involved in one of the Bogart family enterprises. Nancy Bogart on LinkedIn Ron Bogart on LinkedIn Jordan Essentials Gold Mechanical A Heartbeat Away on Amazon  

Brian Garish started at 16, stocking shelves and mopping floors at a Walgreens in Indianapolis. He was not thinking about a career. He just wanted financial independence from his parents. Decades later, he is the Global Chief Client Officer for Mars Veterinary Health, overseeing more than 3,000 hospitals and 70,000 associates across the globe. The through line from then to now is not a title or an org chart. It is three things he learned early: the power of mentorship, the irreplaceable value of front-line experience, and what it actually takes to build a culture worth being part of. In this conversation with Deborah Fell, Brian unpacks what those lessons look like at scale. He talks about what happens when a leader moves faster than the team can keep up, how he gave a team member the power to hold him accountable, and why a 360 review is not something to survive but something to act on. He shares a straightforward conviction: the best strategy in the world means nothing without people who believe in it and have the conditions to execute it. And those conditions are built or broken by the leaders closest to the work, not by the people at the top of the org chart. Mars Veterinary Health is part of Mars Incorporated, which operates Banfield Pet Hospital, VCA, Blue Pearl, and emergency and specialty veterinary care across more than 30 countries. Brian has visited hospitals in all of them, and his first priority every time is to go talk to the person answering the phone at the front desk. If your company creates narratives to explain why results are not what they should be, this episode will make you think differently about where that explanation actually starts. BRIAN GARISH – CHIEF CLIENT OFFICER, GLOBAL MARS VETERINARY HEALTH  As Global Chief Client Officer, Brian leads client-facing functions across Mars Veterinary Health, including global strategic marketing, demand generation, hospital real estate and facilities management, business development, customer contact call center, and the Rapid Growth Markets (RGM) region. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, including his leadership roles as President of Banfield and President of Mars Veterinary Health International, Brian brings both a global lens and deep understanding of the veterinary care business to the MVH Global Leadership Team.   LinkedIn URL - linkedin.com/in/briangarish Mars Veterinary Health is a global division of Mars Petcare dedicated to delivering high-quality pet healthcare in service of its Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS. The Mars Veterinary Health family of businesses—including AniCura, Banfield Pet Hospital, BluePearl Pet Hospital, Linnaeus, Mount Pleasant Veterinary Group, VCA Animal Hospitals, VES Singapore, VSH Hong Kong, Tai Wai Animal Hospital, and others—includes more than 70,000 Associates across North America, Europe, and Asia who demonstrate compassion and expertise in caring for over 10 million pets each year. As part of a family-owned business with 90 years of experience caring for pets—including more than 30 years in veterinary services—Mars Veterinary Health makes long-term investments to support its Associates and contribute to the future of veterinary medicine through clinical excellence across its connected care network. Learn more at marsveterinary.com.  

Gene Holtzman didn't start out in staffing. He started in the South Bronx, working with drug addicts and unemployed people in the late 1970s, building nonprofits and figuring out how to help people find work. When Reagan-era budget cuts pulled the rug out in 1982, he had a decision to make. He was 31 years old with two kids, and he chose to bet on himself. That bet became Mitchell Martin, a technology and healthcare staffing firm Gene co-founded on Wall Street in 1984. Today the company runs close to $180 million in revenue and employs staffing professionals, contractors, and a team of 75 in India. They've survived the 1987 crash, 9/11 (they were three blocks away and couldn't get to their office for six months), COVID, and the current market contraction. In this conversation, Gene talks with Deborah Fell about what it actually looks like to run a company for over 40 years with the heart of a social worker. He gets into the decision to become an ESOP, why he walked away from what would have been a much larger exit, how he's handling fraud detection with AI tools like Ropes AI, and where he sees the staffing industry heading as AI reshapes the job market. Gene also talks candidly about succession. His son Josh has been with the company for 15 years and is being built up to run it. The goal isn't to leave next Thursday. It's to build something that outlasts him and rewards the people who helped get it there. If you're a CEO wrestling with what loyalty to employees actually looks like in practice, or you're wondering how to stay energized when the market turns against you, this is a conversation worth hearing. Gene Holtzman Bio: Eugene Holtzman founded Mitchell Martin in 1984 with the idea that technology was the future of business.  Today, that notion still stands and has helped propel MMI in to one of the largest IT staffing firms in the US.  Gene is distinguished by his energy and creativity, guiding teams with a culture that encourages and supports continuous learning and innovation. With a passion for talent acquisition technology, Gene started Talent Tech Labs, a one-of-a-kind venture to research, validate and accelerate new TA technologies by connecting early-stage companies with forward thinkers in the industry.  Guided by his inspirational leadership, MMI continues to grow with a focus on technology and collaboration, harnessing the benefits of niche IT specializations to better serve both clients and candidates.  Gene Holtzman on LinkedIn