A Heart of Thanksgiving: Leadership, Faith, and Resilience with Rear Adm. Dr. Endel Lee
Nuts and Bolts of Leadership
In this special Thanksgiving episode of The Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren welcomes Dr. Endel Lee, a Marine Corps veteran and retired Navy chaplain, to discuss leading with gratitude, even in the face of life's challenges. Endel Lee shares powerful stories from his time serving in combat and surviving Hurricane Katrina, explaining how those experiences helped him focus on what truly matters: people and faith. They discuss the idea that leadership is about influencing with compassion and conviction, not just authority. Endel Lee offers practical advice, like counting your...
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Leadership Across Borders with Alberto Aguilar of Carris Reels
Nuts and Bolts of Leadership
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren talks with , President and CEO of Carris Reels, and Erick Ramos, Senior VP of Business Development at Threaded Fasteners. Alberto shares his journey from General Manager to CEO and discusses what makes Carris Reels unique, including their employee ownership and a focus on continuous improvement. For this special episode, most of the conversation is in Spanish, highlighting the importance of diversity and reaching a wider audience. Alberto talks about leadership principles, building a strong workplace culture, and the...
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Leadership Blueprint for Growth with Lynn Bruns
Nuts and Bolts of Leadership
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, Billy Duren welcomes , CEO of ISG Architect and Engineering Services. Lynn shares his journey from engineer to leader and the importance of recognizing leadership potential in others early on. He discusses how ISG’s unique growth model allows talent to flourish no matter their location, emphasizing trust, open communication, and a culture of celebrating wins and learning from challenges. Lynn highlights ISG’s Leadership Acceleration Program, which develops emerging leaders with coaching and group experiences. He describes how the...
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Sparking Innovation with Ray Brown
Nuts and Bolts of Leadership
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren sits down with Ray Brown, CEO and board chair of Scintilla EG holding company, which leads the Esco Group. Ray shares how the company's three unique business units, electric, automation, and safety, work together while embracing their own cultures. He explains why a holding company model allows each group to shine, drive innovation, and attract new opportunities through mergers and acquisitions. Ray and Billy delve into why automation and AI are crucial for manufacturers, not to replace workers, but to meet the increasing...
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Trust, Technology, and Teamwork from Jason Bader
Nuts and Bolts of Leadership
On this episode of the Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren sits down with Jason Bader, principal of the and an expert in strategic business coaching for wholesale distribution companies. Jason talks about his journey from working in his family’s contractor supply business at a young age to becoming a teacher and trusted advisor in the distribution world. The conversation covers the importance of trust and communication between sales and operations, the challenge of managing change, and the need for setting clear goals and measures within organizations. Jason also shares...
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Cultivating Next-Generation Leaders: Strategies from Dr. Stacy Wellborn
Nuts and Bolts of Leadership
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren sits down with , a serial entrepreneur, marketing consultant, and professor at . Stacy shares how her real-world business experience shapes her teaching, making classroom lessons more practical and relatable for students. She discusses the importance of blending academic theory with real examples, helping students prepare for real challenges after graduation. The conversation covers how today's students are interested in entrepreneurship and the idea of having control over their careers, including side hustles and the...
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The Coach’s Playbook for Leading Educators: Insights from Jimmy Messer
Nuts and Bolts of Leadership
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren sits down with Jimmy Messer, Head of School at in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Jimmy shares how his background in basketball coaching shaped his approach to leading teams of educators, emphasizing the importance of putting the right people in the right roles and building a team culture focused on shared goals. Jimmy explains that a coachable attitude, being open to feedback and putting the team first, is key to successful leadership in any setting. He also highlights the value of modeling positive behaviors, consistent...
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Embracing AI at Light Speed: The Crawl, Walk, Run, Fly Approach with Don Monistere
Nuts and Bolts of Leadership
In this episode of Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren sits down with , CEO and President of , to talk all things artificial intelligence (AI) in the business world. Don explains how fast AI is changing and how companies are struggling to keep up. He shares that most leaders recognize the need to utilize AI but are unsure of where to begin. Don recommends a “crawl, walk, run, fly” approach—start small, learn quickly, and gradually use more advanced tools. They also discuss the importance of training employees on AI, being cautious with company data, and keeping everyone...
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Building Authentic Relationships and Strategic Storytelling with Shelby Sledge
Nuts and Bolts of Leadership
On this episode of the Nuts and Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren welcomes , co-founder of , to discuss the power of authentic communication inside organizations and with customers. Shelby breaks down how her team helps companies tailor their messaging, like making a custom mixtape, so that it fits their unique needs and values. She explains why it's vital for organizations to align their internal messaging with how they communicate with customers, and shares why being genuine, transparent, and consistent builds trust. Shelby also dives into customer journey mapping, the importance of...
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Aligning Purpose and Practice with The Quotable Alex Moss
Nuts and Bolts of Leadership
In this special 50th episode of the Nuts and Bolts of Leadership podcast, hosts Billy Duren talk with Alex Moss, co-founding principal at Praxis, to explore real-world leadership and governance for employee-owned companies. Alex shares his expertise on what truly makes a workplace thrive: creating ownership opportunities, building a healthy workplace culture, and helping both leaders and employees "lean in" and engage fully. Together, they bust old myths about leadership - it's not just about telling people what to do, but about coaching, listening, and building trust. Alex also explains the...
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In this special milestone episode of Nuts & Bolts of Leadership, host Billy Duren turns the spotlight on longtime co-host and producer Hali Gibson as she steps into a new leadership role beyond Threaded Fasteners. Hali reflects on her journey from intern to marketing leader, sharing the key lessons and "nuggets" she's gathered from nearly 50 episodes - like the importance of curiosity, embracing imperfection, and the value in surrounding yourself with subject matter experts. Hali opens up about her move to Milwaukee and her excitement (and nerves) about leading a new marketing team at RF Technologies. The conversation explores leadership language, navigating transitions, and empowering emerging leaders to take the initiative and "raise their hand" for new opportunities. This heartfelt farewell is packed with wisdom for anyone navigating change or growing as a leader. Don't miss Hali's insights and the team's commitment to carrying the podcast - and its legacy - forward!
3 Key Listener Takeaways
The Value of Curiosity and Teamwork in Building Something New
Both Billy and Hali reflect on how their podcast's growth hinged on staying curious, asking lots of questions, and bringing knowledgeable people into the fold—like their podcast engineer, Johnny. They emphasize that embracing imperfections and learning together as a team led to a more successful and enjoyable podcasting journey.
Language and Culture Matter in Leadership
Hali discusses how certain language and cultural habits they developed at Threaded Fasteners—like "constructively discontent," "practicing the pause," "bootstrapping," and using "we" language—became integral to their work. She anticipates carrying these language nuggets with her to her new role, illustrating how shared language shapes team culture and personal leadership style.
Growth Through Stretch Opportunities and Safe Environments
A major theme is Hali's career journey: she moved from intern to leadership, largely by raising her hand for new challenges (like creating a marketing department and launching the podcast). Billy and Hali both stress the importance for emerging leaders to seek out new opportunities—even if unprepared—and for established leaders to create safe environments where it's okay to fail, learn, and grow. This supportive culture was portrayed as essential for both individual and organizational development.
Show Overview
00:00 Podcasting: Learning, Growth, and Fun
03:34 Podcast's Impactful Guest Stories
08:31 Milwaukee Move Sparks New Opportunity
11:30 Explaining Bootstrapping in Marketing
13:35 Leadership Journey and Language Insights
18:21 Marketing Role Development Journey
21:11 Empowering Emerging Leaders
25:25 Encouraging Growth Through Leadership Challenges
27:35 Farewell Tribute to Hali