In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Steven Ward, founder of ITech Governance Consulting and author of Strategy Before Tools. Ward shares lessons from his journey through business ownership, banking, and IT leadership—revealing why most companies overspend on technology while underinvesting in strategy. He explains how leaders can shift from reactive IT to proactive governance by focusing on clarity, accountability, and alignment with business objectives. From avoiding bloated tech stacks to preparing for the disruptive impacts of AI and automation, Ward offers practical insights for executives who want technology to serve their mission—not dictate it.

In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar speaks with Shannon J. Dobbs, disabled veteran, regenerative entrepreneur, and founder of the Fellowship of Living Systems. Dobbs shares how his team is redefining food infrastructure by converting organic waste into climate-resilient prosperity. From Humisoil technology that transforms biomass into carbon-sequestering topsoil, to blast chiller food rescue systems that repurpose surplus meals, Dobbs outlines a bold vision for circular economies that connect communities, industries, and global supply chains. Listeners will learn how regenerative models can cut waste, unlock manufacturing efficiencies, and empower farmers and municipalities to build community-controlled, climate-smart food systems that are both sustainable and profitable.

In this Industry Ignited episode, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews Sara Beth Raab, award-winning fractional Chief Events Officer at SB Events, on how to transform trade shows and large-scale activations into measurable B2B growth engines. Sara Beth explains building an event strategy that aligns C-suite goals with marketing and sales, how to quantify “squishy” metrics like trust, relationships, and brand perception, and practical ways to design neurodiverse-friendly experiences that remove barriers to connection. She also shares a realistic playbook for integrating AI in event planning—choosing tools that solve real problems without creating friction for attendees or teams. If you want events that drive pipeline, culture, and customer loyalty (not just logos on swag), this episode delivers the blueprint.
Keywords: Sara Beth Raab, fractional chief events officer, event strategy, B2B marketing, trade shows, neurodiversity, AI for events, measurable ROI, experiential marketing, SB Events.

In this Industry Ignited episode, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar sits down with Tal Mund, founder and chairman of BL Energy, to unpack how he helped turn battery energy storage from a blank slate into Israel’s new grid backbone. Mund shares the mindset behind entering complex, capital-intensive markets early, the pivotal partnerships (including top-tier battery manufacturers) that fueled BL Energy’s growth past 1 GWh in contracted projects, and why BESS is the flexibility layer modern grids can’t live without. He explains moving from integrator to asset developer, Europe’s early-stage expansion opportunities (Baltics, Balkans/Romania), and the rising energy demands of AI-driven data centers. Leaders will hear practical lessons on de-risking first-of-kind projects, building trust-based global supply chains, and scaling with software, monitoring, and reliability at the core.

In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar talks with Marvin Woodie, President of Conn-Weld Industries, Inc., a West Virginia leader in custom-engineered vibrating screens, separation equipment, and precision parts. Woodie traces his four-decade journey from field operations (1986) to the presidency and breaks down Conn-Weld’s ethos of “smart engineering for real-world applications.” He explains how problem identification, design-for-manufacture, and dense-media/fine-particle separations (down to ~50 microns) drive efficiency in mining, aggregates, recycling, and food processing.

The conversation covers balancing custom builds with operational efficiency, new solutions for recycled concrete and clean metal recovery, thoughtful adoption of ERP/CAD-CAM and AI with a safety-first mindset, and Conn-Weld’s commitment to U.S. manufacturing, sustainability, workforce training, and community impact. Listeners will learn how culture, trust, and hands-on engineering translate into measurable customer value—and how Conn-Weld is positioning for the next 50 years.

In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar interviews David Loynd, President & CEO of Endurex Pharmaceuticals, on how a peptide-directed nanoparticle drug delivery platform—built around “cellular zip codes”—targets tumors while sparing healthy tissue. Drawing on engineering discipline, systems thinking, and partnerships with institutions like MD Anderson, David explains why traditional chemotherapy’s systemic toxicity falls short and how Endurex localizes payloads to hard-to-treat cancers such as triple-negative breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and glioblastoma. We dive into manufacturing-minded optimization (design of experiments, polymeric nanocarriers), scale-up paths (microfluidics, impinging-jet, or patient-specific small-scale units), and a pipeline that extends beyond chemo to immunotherapies, RNA/antisense cargos, and vaccine delivery. The result: potential for higher efficacy, lower toxicity, improved patient experience, and scalable systems that move from invention to impact. If you’re in biotech, pharma operations, or industrial process design, this conversation is a masterclass in precision delivery, process innovation, and commercialization strategy.

In this Industry Ignited episode, US BIOLOGIC leader Chris Przybyszewski traces a career spanning neuroscience, public health, medical devices, high-tech, and infectious disease—and how it shaped his “translator” leadership style that aligns diverse experts around clear goals, shared definitions, and measurable success. He unpacks lessons from funding science across venture capital, government, and philanthropy—matching missions and ROI while never wasting stakeholders’ time.

Chris spotlights US BIOLOGIC’s breakthrough: orally delivered, thermostable vaccines deployed via backyard pellet stations to immunize reservoir species (like mice) against Lyme disease—an innovation that demanded new chemistry, manufacturing, distribution, and regulatory pathways, plus a deliberate IP “minefield” strategy. Drawing parallels to industrial supply chains, he frames the company as a delivery business optimizing the right antigen to the right species at the right moment, and argues for One Health collaboration across animal, human, environmental, regulatory, and commercial domains.

Looking ahead, he sees AI enabling rapid pathogen detection, antigen selection, regulatory mapping, and development acceleration—while emphasizing that real-world manufacturing and last-mile distribution still decide impact. Anchored by his mantra “find a way or make one,” Chris advises leaders to choose boldly, accept early wrong turns, iterate with discipline, and persevere toward outcomes that protect public health and economies worldwide.

In this episode of Industry Ignited, Dr. Leeanne Aguilar chats with Justin Mayer—Brand President at Outdoor Lighting Perspectives, Darden MBA, and former U.S. Marine Corps helicopter pilot—about leading with discipline, humility, and a people-first mindset. Justin shares battlefield-tested lessons like servant leadership, rapid decision-making, and driving initiative “down to the lowest level,” then connects them to building trust, alignment, and cross-functional excellence in business. From DuPont product launches to scaling a 130+ location franchise, he shows how data, candor, and culture power growth—especially when leaders move fast, communicate clearly, and empower teams to own the mission.