September 24, 2024 • 30 mins
Project BEST's newest executive director joins Mike to talk about his path to the new role, the importance of apprenticeships, and more.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:17):
Well, welcome to CEOs you should Know. I'm your host,
Mike Howard, CEO of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce.
We are pleased as punch to present CEOs you should
Know in the Wheeling, Steubenville, Dmadew Ohio Valley tri state area.
We've been presenting this for two or three years now
and I've been a host for I think a little
over a year year and a half and we're getting
(00:39):
back on the podcast trail after the summer. We are
sponsored by our good friends at West Banco and namely,
I think of some of our people we see at
the Chamber all the time, Ryan Garrison from the main branch,
Jake Roselli from Elmgrove, Sunny West from up at the Highlands, VP,
Amanda Brown, Market President, David Klick, and of course that CEO,
(00:59):
Jeff Jack And we love Jeff and his wife ron Renee,
and we are just thrilled to have West Banco as
a big part of our chamber and especially promoting sponsoring
our podcast content development. We are in studio today with
a guy who may not be new to the valley,
but fairly new to his position. It's mister Nathan Butts
from Project Best. Nathan say, hello the audience.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Hello everyone, thanks for having me, Mike.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And your title executive director, director of Project Best. Executive
director of Project Best. Well, a lot of people might go,
you know, I've heard of Project Best. I see their
stamps around or people talking about them, but they may
not know a whole lot about it. So this is
your chance as a fairly new guy. Co have you
been in a position? How long?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Six months? Now? Oh, it's six months, six months today. Actually,
there you go.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Six month anniversary. Boop oop, I play the bells and
the whistles and we'll celebrate. Well, let's go backwards a
little bit though. Where are you originally from? Where'd you
grow up, schooling and all that kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I'm from Shady Side, Ohio. Well, that's right, just across
the across the river. I went to high school, graduated
from Shady Side, then went on to West Liberty where
I got my bachelor's degree in business administration, and then
have been kind of just in the in the valley
area ever since. Still live in Shady Side with my
wife and four children.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
That's right, four kids. Wow, yep, you still got a
few more to catch up to me. So I guess
the West people haven't reached out to you or try
to get.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
You to do the NBA yet they have. Yeah, and
I want to, but I'm sick too.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
I'm like, I don't know if an NBA will do
me to good or not. But yeah, there's a part
of me that wants to go back for something like that.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
I think I absolutely do. I just I'm maxed out
on time right now. But I definitely four.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Kids in a new job. Yeah, we could see that now.
Prior to Project Best, what were you into then?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
For the past eight years, I had business development roles
with three different companies. Started with the health plan here
and Wheeling.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Well, that's right, I forgot about.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
That, yep. And then our department, which was pretty much
specifically workers compensation in Ohio I always bought by entity
up in Toledo called pro Metica. They had a Wheeling
office for us where we worked in the in the
Laconia building, so I was there, And then most recently
I went to minute Men HR out of Cleveland. I've
(03:14):
kind of followed my boss from the health Plan to
all these different places, okay. And then I had built
a nice client base here in the valley of companies
that used our services, and that's actually what led me
into the Project Best role was that I had a
few of these contractors as clients, and one of them
reached out to me, who's on the border Project Best,
and asked if I would have any interest in doing this,
(03:36):
and I did, and here I.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Am so so the people understand and it helps me too.
I'm assuming most of your roles were for profit before
Project Best.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yes, yep. This is my first time dealing with nonprofit, so.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
A little bit of an adjustment to me too. I've
been mostly with for profit media or hotel companies all
my life and then jumping into the chamber, which is
a five O one C six and now we have
a five O one C three. Tell us how that
adjustment was for you so far in these last six months.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, it's it's been interesting, just because, like you said,
you know, in other businesses, when you work for a
family owned business or you know, corporation or the goal
is to make as much and do as much as
you can, whereas with Project Best, you know, we were
jointly funded by the upper A high value building trades
and the high value contractor or construction employers. Association. So
(04:30):
we're not really looking to necessarily sell anything or generate anything.
We're we're kind of looking to give it all back
into where it comes from. So the main message and
the main goal of Project Best, like I said, we're
funded by the unions and by the contractors, so we
want to one advocate for the contractors and for the unions.
(04:51):
So when when jobs or projects come to the valley,
we want to ensure that they're going to be union
work as opposed to non union and.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
We're hoping there's going to be a lot more of
those in the valley right as we grow, as we
all work together to build.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
This absolutely this area, yep. And then and then just
another aspect of Project Best is to kind of help
facilitate a pipeline of new members into these unions, such
as you know, high school kids coming out, or or
people who may go to college but only make it
a year or two. Just educating them that there is
a really good option for them to have a lifelong
(05:26):
career in one of these trade unions.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
And we do that with our College and Career Fair
we do every fall to try to give them options.
What are I mean option? I want them to see
what all the options are, whether it's school, whether it's trades,
whether it's anything. And so we have both colleges and
universities as well as groups that offer apprenticeships and training
within that company. What all are you all doing in
(05:48):
that regard? How do you get the word out to
the schools or even to the families.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yep, So in in my first six months, I've made
it a point to reach out to guidance counselors, principles,
you know, some school board members and in some districts
mainly educate them on what Project Best does. And then
you know, last year, towards the end of the year
when I first started in March, we had made some
(06:13):
visits to schools. I had taken some guys from different
trades with me, and then any kids who were interested
could come kind of have like a one on one
session with the trade and kind of learn more, because
it seems like high school kids are more apt to
do that as opposed in a big setting where you know,
which we're having a career for next week and I
(06:35):
plan on it being great too. But you know, then
following up to the career, fair to any high school
kids who are kind of more looking for that one
on one talk with with a certain trade. You know,
definitely open to doing that as well.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So you will do this every September. We do ours
every October. So our organizations are putting ways out there
for the young people to find out what's what's available.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Right, absolutely, yep. And this one is going to have
live exhibits by most of the trades that are attending.
So that's kind of what's gonna separate this specific one
from other affairs. Is this one is just specific to
construction trades, okay, And it will have you know, hands
on and live kind of activities for the students.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Tell them how people can get a hold of you
at Project Best website, phone, whatever, whatever ways you like
to have communication.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yep. Probably the best way is just just by email.
I have my email on my phone at all times,
so Nathan at Project best dot com. That's easy, yep.
Or or you can just give our general number of
buzz off the top of my head. I don't have
a memorized by website. Our website's Project best dot com. Yeah,
and you can find any information on there and you
(07:43):
feel free to reach out in any way possible.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
So I'm curious. Let's let's assume right now we've got
a very popular podcast here. I really don't know. I
haven't seen any reports, but iHeart does this in every
market across the country, so probably somebody's listening. If there
was a contractor driving down the road that found out
and was listened to this, what would they need to know? Why?
Why would they want to contact.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
You a contractor yeah, as in like a non union one.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Or yeah if it was a you mentioned you work
with both contractors and union folks, or even even a
union shop guy. Who whoever? Who are the people that
you'd want to hear this and why would they need
to contact.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Well, from a from a union side, any contractor who
is is signatory with one of the local unions within
the upper high value building trades is is already kind
of already signing into Yeah, you're you're agreeing to because
they're they're matching the contribution that the union side makes
essentially is how is how it is designated to work
with the purpose of marketing and advocating for them on
(08:40):
their behalf? Is kind of how this whole thing was formed.
For a non union contractor, you know, who would be
considering going uh signatory into into with one of the unions. Uh,
you know, the main message to them is just you know,
you you want to unions. What they do is they
pay their people, you know, a fair wage, and then
(09:01):
they also have the benefits side of things, which which
is nearly matches the wage, if not more than matches
the wage when you factor in you know, the health
benefits and the retirement and things of that nature. So
I it's kind of just a way to you know,
give your workers what they deserve. And that's the message
of unions as a whole, not to you know, not
to speak down on any non union contractors because you
(09:23):
know they're doing they're doing what they can as well.
But that's just where you know, the message from the
union side.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Yeah, we always said different strokes for different folks. But
I just wanted, you know, the people that might hear
this to understand how that might work if someone were
starting their own company, at least maybe discuss with get
with you all to discuss what those options are, what
would work potentially best for them.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yeah, if you're starting, you know, a contracting company and
you're interested in being a union contractor, most certainly reach
out and then whatever field of work that you're in,
whether it be carpentry or you know, hvac or plumbing
and pipe fitting, I could help facilitate putting you in
touch with with who the business manage would be to
that specific union.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
So then counselors anyone in the schools, teachers, whatnot that
we have. I mean, let's face it, most teachers probably
interact with students all day long in May here. You know,
I just really don't even know what I'm gonna do
with my life. What's the best road for someone like that? Again,
contact you all or talk to someone in the school
to find out how they can connect these young people up.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yep, I think you know. One of my goals is
to educate every guidance counselor on the benefits of the
trades because you know, they're not for everybody, just like
college isn't for everybody, but they are for kids who
you know, like working with their hands and you know,
like to see a finished project and know that they
had a role in that. And the big selling point is,
(10:47):
you know, with the trades is no debt. These apprenticeships
are paid apprenticeships.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Oh that's a say that phrase again.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
No debt. No debt. Yeah, that's a big parents love
to hear that. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
But I think I'm starting to talk with young people
that are realizing in saying that I'm not going to
go to do this thing of college or this whatever
because I really am not in a position to incur.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
That kind of debt right correct. And you know, more
times than not, kids will go to college just because
they feel like that's what they have to do with
really no plan in place, and then make it a
year or two and depending on where you go, that
could put you into thirty forty thousand dollars in debt.
But if you go to a local college, you know
wouldn't necessarily be that much, but still it puts you,
(11:27):
puts you in debt when you have really no plan
in place, and then you know you might drop out
and you might be looking for a job and trying
to get in front of those type of kids and say, hey,
don't don't waste your time going. You know, if you're
not dead set on it, you have a good career
waiting for you here if you want it well.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
And I think we're going to need lots of trade
type folks, plumbers and electricians, and those type of things,
much like some of the other fields of nursing and
other teachers. I suppose even you know, there's there's looking
at shortages in those.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yep, yep. So I've you know, done some really online
and within the next five to ten years, they feel
like a big wave of tradesmen are going to be
retiring and there's going to be a need. There already
is a need, but there will definitely be a jurassic
need coming up. And that's you know why it's good
to get out and get ahead of this and try
(12:18):
and get the ball rolling. Now, even kids in junior high,
it doesn't hurt to you know, plant the seed in
them that this is this is an option.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
You know, as we're talking to some of the schools
and people and businesses, that's what we're hearing too, is
even the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades begin to have
them start looking at what it is. Because we're at
a point now, I guess in the valley where maybe
fifty percent are going to go to college and fifty
percent aren't. Yep, and those fifty you know, and if
they know that and that's what they've decided, the fifty
(12:45):
percent that aren't we want to encourage to look into
something that is going to be a career. Yeah, you
can start a part time or hourly job or whatever,
just to you know, put food on your own little
apartment table. If we want to be so blunt, but
to look at something that's going to actually be a career.
If you decide someday you're gonna want a family, have kids,
retirement and all that type of thing. The trades offer
(13:08):
a great package to that. Speak to that a little
bit about what it is that a trade career can
offer somebody.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yep, that would be a big message to high school students,
you know, know the difference between a job and a career.
You know, like you said, a job is somewhere you
show up. The hourly rate might look good on paper,
but there's nothing else that goes with it. There's no benefits,
there's no health, there's no four oh one K, there's
no any type of retirement plan, there's no paid time off,
(13:35):
whereas in a career, you know, with the trades, you
have a you can kind of see your trajectory. Your
apprenticeship may last four to five years once you become
a journeyman, which is when you get out of your apprenticeship,
you're making the top wage scale you can journeyman. Yeah,
well essentially what that means, so why they call it that.
When you're in a union and you reach journeyman status,
(13:59):
you're free to travel around to any local union in
the country should you want to, should you want to
go somewhere, for you're an electrician, Yeah, and you're here
in local IBW and you feel like going across the country,
You're you're more than welcome to go sign their book
and and try and get on a job with them.
So that's kind of where that term is for. But yeah,
(14:20):
with with when you're in a trade, you're you know,
you're going to get stuff negotiated on your behalf. Your
wages are going to go up. You're never going to
have you know, you're never gonna have to worry about
uh things going down or getting worse. You know. Sometimes
if works slow, you may be laid off, but that's
you know, not always common fact of life. Sometimes, Yeah, absolutely,
(14:42):
And you can even move into higher roles. I mean
all these all these unions have uh business managers, business agents, presidents.
You can move into the internationals, which are above the
local unions, so there there's definitely room for advancement. And
and like I said, it's it's a fan only sustaining job.
I mean, it's it's it's always going to be there
(15:02):
and it's always going to be there to support you.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
And when you mentioned that, it made me just think,
as you're beginning of career like that, there isn't anything
to say that you can't begin to start taking certification
classes or even very part time, you know, if you're
really enjoying this, but you also like that management side,
starting to look at getting a bachelor's in business very slowly,
one class at a time. That's how I did my
(15:24):
seminary degree over thirteen years, one class at the time. Yeah,
I said, there's a picture of persistence. But that's how
I could do it with kids in a full time job.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Yep, it doesn't hurt. And there are plenty of examples
of guys who started out, you know, in a union
and then moved over to the contractor side, in you
know management or in project management or or you know,
in a front office type role. Like you said, if
you do want to pursue a more management style approach.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Well you've probably seen over the years in your other
jobs and now in especially in this one. What the
people you work with, different leadership styles in those things,
how would you describe maybe yours and who may be
in your life, whether it's family, business, professor, or whatever
may have had an influence on you. We love to
talk about leadership stories and mentor stories.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Yep, A couple people, not that I'm really I mean
I'm thirty three, so I still don't really feel like
a leader yet. But but if I but if I
was to, if I was to throw out some influences,
I would say, first, I had a a high school
(16:35):
football coach. He was a legend here in the valley,
Ty Fleming, and he was one of those guys that
you just respected and you knew to respect him. But
he wasn't like a yeller and a screamer. I mean sometimes,
but but he was. He knew when to when to yell,
but he also knew when to give you a compliment
and when to be nice. And I think that's a
(16:59):
great trait because I'm not I would never be a
yeller and a screamer at somebody. But you also want
that respect from people to where they know you know
not to take advantage of you or not to and
and he just had that way about him, so you know,
he's definitely one. Conversely, uh, my my boss for my
(17:19):
past eight years in my prior roles was a guy
named Eric petho local guy, and and he was he
was just a character, always joking with people, always having
a good time. And I like that approach as well
because that that really opens you up to you know,
to where everybody's your friend and everybody's your contact. And
(17:41):
I think that's a good approach too, because you never
want to burn a bridge and you always I feel
like you always want to be friendly with everybody and
and even if you know things don't go your way,
you know, take the take the higher road and be
nice because you never know when when that's going to
come back at some point in life.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
It's like John Maxwell's new book, High Road Leadership.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
There's definitely ways to be a low road leader and
definitely ways to be middle of the road, but high
roads what you want to go for. Well, I've known
you for the six months, You've been hearing a little
bit prior to that, and what I've noticed in you
is you're kind of a networker, people person Yep, talk
to our audience about that a little bit, because I
don't bring enough of that out, you know, with AI
and zooms and still you got the phone hound people,
(18:22):
and that's fine. I've worked with plenty of people that
are very good on the phone. I'm a networker. I
think you're a networker. What in that is it for
you that you would still encourage people as I'd like
to say, to just show up?
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Yeah, people skills. I mean, like I said, I don't
know if I haven't or not, but I do enjoy
I do enjoy talking with people and these networking events,
and I just I like to always hear people talk.
I try and just sit back and hear their stories
and ask questions about them as opposed to just bombarding
(18:54):
them with stuff about me. You know. I think that's key.
I think that networking as a whole. You know, when
I was younger and even in college, like didn't really
understand what it was. But it's it's so important to
have as large of a circle as you can of people,
you know, because again you never know, you know, down
the road where it's going to come back to to
(19:17):
your benefit or something like that. So with my prior role.
The reason I, like I said, I got to project
best is one of these contractors you know, knew me
from that and got me into that. Now. The reason
they knew me from that role is because for five years,
every year during this renewal period, we'll say, I would
walk in and they would tell me no, no thanks,
(19:38):
right to my face. I was always a walk in
type person. And then lo and behold. One of these years,
their person at their company who was a competitor of
mine left and he called me and he said, you
know what, you walked in for five straight years. I
figured I'd give you a call because my contact left
and give you a chance. Yeah, And that's kind of
(20:00):
you know, that speaks to that in person type where
it still matters to see a name with a face
and have an in person type conversation.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
But you even upgraded my whole point there from not
only just networking, but persistence, Yeah, of never giving up,
show up, don't give up, and good things could happen.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
And I think we need to be telling that too.
And we've we've even started with our business after hours
we did in training up at West Liberty, start working
with young folks now to say, you know, this is
how you present yourself, this is how you talk to people,
and you just you just do it. I mean it
really is almost a Nike story to some degree.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
You just do it. Yeah. Class, Yeah, business classes and
all that and that I took are definitely a big thing.
But you know, the people skills are kind of an
intangible I don't know if you can really teach that.
I mean you can to some people, but some people
just may not you know, have them. But those that do,
I think, you know, you can really be successful by
(20:59):
getting out there and kind of marketing yourself.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
When I think one of the things, Nathan, that we
all need to do, you all ov cec us the schools.
We need to be helping in that personal development, in
that kind of a training situation and encouraging mentoring. We
need people that have experience taking those that don't getting
to know them and helping them. Just saw the movie Forge,
and it's basically The Forge, and it's one of those
(21:24):
helping young men become real grown men. And one of
the scenes in it, the guy says, Okay, stand up,
I'm gonna teach you how to look someone in the eye,
shake their hand, and tell them who you are. And
I'm like, oh my gosh, that art is so lost
and we need to do that.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Yep, yep, And I'll give it. I'll give a shout out.
I know you'll like this because he's your coworker. Ross
seems like a Ross salvatory at the chamber. Yeah, I'm
really good, well spoken, young guy who seems to get
you know, he just gets it. He gets the networking
aspect of everything and how he presents himself. And I
(22:02):
brought that up because we had a little golf outing
with him, you know, a month or so ago, and
I had a friend with me who had nothing to
do with Project Best or nothing to do with business,
and he was just he said, Wow, this kid's like
really impressive for just being fresh out of college. And
so shout out to Ross. Absolutely good.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Well, and guys like Ross are ones we need to
lean on to be mentors to the people that are
just a few years behind him.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
I mean us older guys, and I'm a lot older
than you, we should do it as well. But to
have someone just a few years older, I mean, someone
can look at that and go okay, I can do
that now. I don't have to have gray hair and
be going bald or whatever. You know, we can do
it now, and I think I think that's one of
the things we're hoping to do more of with the chamber,
with our collaboration partners, which is what I call Project
(22:45):
Best and all the things going on in the city
and the county and the region. We're collaborating to help
people grow and to help businesses grow and increase everything
in this valley. And I think that's that's what's going
to help it. One of the things I love to ask,
and in a lot of cases it's a collaboration story
more than one incident. But has there been like this
(23:05):
tough life lesson something that you've learned, something that's shaped you.
And maybe it's even in family or work or sports.
We find a lot of people talk about sports stories
and things that shape them. Is there anything that you're like, yeah,
that happened. I like to encourage people to say, you know,
just hang with it because of anything that you can
(23:26):
recollect in your life that's like, yep, learn from that one.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Nothing specific. I mean I grew. I mean I was
a lifelong football, basketball, and baseball player all the way
through high school. So I mean plenty of just random little.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Well, if you stayed healthy, that's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
But as an adult, I think just being able to
stay well one thing, you know, one piece of advice.
I guess, yeah, and that's fine. Would I think being
mentally tough is important, being able to take criticism and
you know that that kind of goes back to that
coach I mentioned, you know, being able to be yelled
at and told and told you did something wrong, but
(24:07):
understand that they're not being personal with you. They're they're
coaching you or they're trying to make you better. And yeah,
so that that I would say, that's a huge thing
in my life that I've I feel like I've been
good with is being able to be coach and being
able to be you know, disciplined or so and not
taking it personally. You have to be able to do that,
(24:30):
and then I'm a you know, I'm a big believer,
like I said, being mentally being mentally tough. Been big
into running these past couple of years of my life
as an adult, probably five years, and it just I
feel like, you know, it's not fun, but but it
teaches you to to persevere and push through it, you know,
so that kind of teaches us some life lessons. But
(24:51):
but that's really in terms of jobs are you know,
nothing really not one moment that is really like what there's.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Great advice you have there. And my wife talks to
our kids about this all the time. They say, I
really don't want to take that class. That's gonna be
too hard. She's like, no, do it. Challenge yourself. Yeah,
but when you do that, you've got to realize that
you're probably not gonna do as well as you might
in other things. And whether it's a professor or a
coach or a boss, you might take a job you're thinking,
even if it's part time, they're gonna they're gonna have
(25:21):
some updates for you on how y' ought to be
doing things and some criticisms. And hopefully if there are
more of a coaching boss than a managing boss, it's
gonna be Okay, you did this, We don't need to
have it that way. Here's how you have to do it.
But take that and learn from it.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Yeah, yep. And if I'm ever too, you know later
in life, have have any kind of managerial or role
like that, you know, definitely take the coaching approach as
to the to the iron fist approach.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Yeah, in the leadership seminar I'm working up now, I
have an intro on it and we talk about I
found this online. It was fabulous. I think the guy
was from the John Maxwell organization. But he talked about manage,
teach and coach, and his perspective was ten percent managed,
ten percent teach, eighty percent coach. You know, there are
times you have to manage to say this has to
be done this way for whatever reason, maybe it's a
(26:10):
federal regulation or whatnot. Teach is something you know and
you're just wanting to teach someone to take them to
the next level. But for the most part, it's coaching.
It's assisting along the way, getting in the trenches with
them and helping them out.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I agree, completely agree.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Let's see, so we're doing a lot of work with
entrepreneurs now, and I know you may be involved in
some of that down the road. Maybe you are even
now with potential business incubator, that type of thing. In
what you've seen in your life experience so far, what's
some advice for an aspiring CEO, someone that's going to
move up start their own business. What might you have
(26:48):
to suggest for them.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
I would say, don't rush into anything. Not that I'm
a business owner or an entrepreneur myself, but just in
my life experiences and in my prior roles, we we
did run into a lot of entrepreneurs who were starting
companies and we were just one little piece of their company.
But I would say, do your due diligence and in
(27:13):
looking into what all goes into starting a business, because
I know, just through people, I know there's a lot
more than what you see on the surface, whether it
be you know, insurances that you didn't even know exist,
or regulations or you know, things of that nature. So
I guess, don't rush into anything. Be super well read
(27:36):
on on whatever it is that you want to do,
and be be very knowledgeable about it, because there's there's
always people out there trying to do the same exact
thing somewhere well.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
And I think we throw in what we've been talking about,
find a mentor in that, find an entrepreneurial mentor do
a little bit of you know, take a small business
class or whatever you can see because you may be
really good at plumbing or electrician even I've seen it,
and media sales and then people go out and start
ad agencies, but they didn't have a clue about how
to run the business. Not that you can't learn that,
(28:07):
but if you, if you shadow or talk to people
or take some classes and realize, Okay, this really is
what I want to do, I can do this. You
might be like, no, I think I better just stay
at what I'm good at and what I love. And
I think people can save themselves a lot of headache
or build that dream if that's really what they want,
if they, like you said, take the time to flesh
it out.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Yeah, I mean it's definitely a risk, but there can
be a huge reward for people that can execute their plan.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
You've been listening to CEOs, you should know. I'm your host,
Mike Howard from the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce. Our
guest has been Nathan Budd's executive director of Project Best.
Nathan tell them your email and website again.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Yep, my email is Nathan at projectbest dot com and
you can find us at project best dot com.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
And we're a part of the iHeart program. Here of CEOs,
you should know all across the country believe any of
the iHeart studio or station websites also at Wheeling Chamber
dot com. Under media there's our podcast link and you
can hear any of the podcasts we have done over
the last couple of years for CEOs you should Know,
and some of the national ones are available as well.
(29:14):
That iHeart does some great podcasts with national CEOs and
leaders all around the company, all around the country. And
our local sponsor here for this market is our good
friend at Friends at West Banco Banks, so you know
how to get a hold of them because there's a
lot of them around, or contact us at the Chamber
if there's anyone specific you would like to talk to there. Nathan,
(29:35):
thanks for being with us. We appreciate it very much.
Thank you for having me, Mike, and I'll probably see
you on the golf course a few more times this year.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Right definitely been the Chamber sc.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
Yeah, Chambers Scramble every September and in our career fairs
years in September hours in October. Lots of great ways
for people to find out what's supposed to about, Sir.
Appreciate you being with us. Thank you, Mike, See you
next time on CEOs you should Know.
Well, welcome to CEOs you should Know. I'm your host,
Mike Howard, CEO of the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce.
We are pleased as punch to present CEOs you should
Know in the Wheeling, Steubenville, Dmadew Ohio Valley tri state area.
We've been presenting this for two or three years now
and I've been a host for I think a little
over a year year and a half and we're getting
(00:39):
back on the podcast trail after the summer. We are
sponsored by our good friends at West Banco and namely,
I think of some of our people we see at
the Chamber all the time, Ryan Garrison from the main branch,
Jake Roselli from Elmgrove, Sunny West from up at the Highlands, VP,
Amanda Brown, Market President, David Klick, and of course that CEO,
(00:59):
Jeff Jack And we love Jeff and his wife ron Renee,
and we are just thrilled to have West Banco as
a big part of our chamber and especially promoting sponsoring
our podcast content development. We are in studio today with
a guy who may not be new to the valley,
but fairly new to his position. It's mister Nathan Butts
from Project Best. Nathan say, hello the audience.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
Hello everyone, thanks for having me, Mike.
Speaker 1 (01:22):
And your title executive director, director of Project Best. Executive
director of Project Best. Well, a lot of people might go,
you know, I've heard of Project Best. I see their
stamps around or people talking about them, but they may
not know a whole lot about it. So this is
your chance as a fairly new guy. Co have you
been in a position? How long?
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Six months? Now? Oh, it's six months, six months today. Actually,
there you go.
Speaker 1 (01:42):
Six month anniversary. Boop oop, I play the bells and
the whistles and we'll celebrate. Well, let's go backwards a
little bit though. Where are you originally from? Where'd you
grow up, schooling and all that kind of thing.
Speaker 2 (01:54):
I'm from Shady Side, Ohio. Well, that's right, just across
the across the river. I went to high school, graduated
from Shady Side, then went on to West Liberty where
I got my bachelor's degree in business administration, and then
have been kind of just in the in the valley
area ever since. Still live in Shady Side with my
wife and four children.
Speaker 1 (02:13):
That's right, four kids. Wow, yep, you still got a
few more to catch up to me. So I guess
the West people haven't reached out to you or try
to get.
Speaker 2 (02:21):
You to do the NBA yet they have. Yeah, and
I want to, but I'm sick too.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
I'm like, I don't know if an NBA will do
me to good or not. But yeah, there's a part
of me that wants to go back for something like that.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
I think I absolutely do. I just I'm maxed out
on time right now. But I definitely four.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
Kids in a new job. Yeah, we could see that now.
Prior to Project Best, what were you into then?
Speaker 2 (02:44):
For the past eight years, I had business development roles
with three different companies. Started with the health plan here
and Wheeling.
Speaker 1 (02:52):
Well, that's right, I forgot about.
Speaker 2 (02:54):
That, yep. And then our department, which was pretty much
specifically workers compensation in Ohio I always bought by entity
up in Toledo called pro Metica. They had a Wheeling
office for us where we worked in the in the
Laconia building, so I was there, And then most recently
I went to minute Men HR out of Cleveland. I've
(03:14):
kind of followed my boss from the health Plan to
all these different places, okay. And then I had built
a nice client base here in the valley of companies
that used our services, and that's actually what led me
into the Project Best role was that I had a
few of these contractors as clients, and one of them
reached out to me, who's on the border Project Best,
and asked if I would have any interest in doing this,
(03:36):
and I did, and here I.
Speaker 1 (03:37):
Am so so the people understand and it helps me too.
I'm assuming most of your roles were for profit before
Project Best.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
Yes, yep. This is my first time dealing with nonprofit, so.
Speaker 1 (03:47):
A little bit of an adjustment to me too. I've
been mostly with for profit media or hotel companies all
my life and then jumping into the chamber, which is
a five O one C six and now we have
a five O one C three. Tell us how that
adjustment was for you so far in these last six months.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Yeah, it's it's been interesting, just because, like you said,
you know, in other businesses, when you work for a
family owned business or you know, corporation or the goal
is to make as much and do as much as
you can, whereas with Project Best, you know, we were
jointly funded by the upper A high value building trades
and the high value contractor or construction employers. Association. So
(04:30):
we're not really looking to necessarily sell anything or generate anything.
We're we're kind of looking to give it all back
into where it comes from. So the main message and
the main goal of Project Best, like I said, we're
funded by the unions and by the contractors, so we
want to one advocate for the contractors and for the unions.
(04:51):
So when when jobs or projects come to the valley,
we want to ensure that they're going to be union
work as opposed to non union and.
Speaker 1 (05:00):
We're hoping there's going to be a lot more of
those in the valley right as we grow, as we
all work together to build.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
This absolutely this area, yep. And then and then just
another aspect of Project Best is to kind of help
facilitate a pipeline of new members into these unions, such
as you know, high school kids coming out, or or
people who may go to college but only make it
a year or two. Just educating them that there is
a really good option for them to have a lifelong
(05:26):
career in one of these trade unions.
Speaker 1 (05:28):
And we do that with our College and Career Fair
we do every fall to try to give them options.
What are I mean option? I want them to see
what all the options are, whether it's school, whether it's trades,
whether it's anything. And so we have both colleges and
universities as well as groups that offer apprenticeships and training
within that company. What all are you all doing in
(05:48):
that regard? How do you get the word out to
the schools or even to the families.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yep, So in in my first six months, I've made
it a point to reach out to guidance counselors, principles,
you know, some school board members and in some districts
mainly educate them on what Project Best does. And then
you know, last year, towards the end of the year
when I first started in March, we had made some
(06:13):
visits to schools. I had taken some guys from different
trades with me, and then any kids who were interested
could come kind of have like a one on one
session with the trade and kind of learn more, because
it seems like high school kids are more apt to
do that as opposed in a big setting where you know,
which we're having a career for next week and I
(06:35):
plan on it being great too. But you know, then
following up to the career, fair to any high school
kids who are kind of more looking for that one
on one talk with with a certain trade. You know,
definitely open to doing that as well.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
So you will do this every September. We do ours
every October. So our organizations are putting ways out there
for the young people to find out what's what's available.
Speaker 2 (06:57):
Right, absolutely, yep. And this one is going to have
live exhibits by most of the trades that are attending.
So that's kind of what's gonna separate this specific one
from other affairs. Is this one is just specific to
construction trades, okay, And it will have you know, hands
on and live kind of activities for the students.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Tell them how people can get a hold of you
at Project Best website, phone, whatever, whatever ways you like
to have communication.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yep. Probably the best way is just just by email.
I have my email on my phone at all times,
so Nathan at Project best dot com. That's easy, yep.
Or or you can just give our general number of
buzz off the top of my head. I don't have
a memorized by website. Our website's Project best dot com. Yeah,
and you can find any information on there and you
(07:43):
feel free to reach out in any way possible.
Speaker 1 (07:45):
So I'm curious. Let's let's assume right now we've got
a very popular podcast here. I really don't know. I
haven't seen any reports, but iHeart does this in every
market across the country, so probably somebody's listening. If there
was a contractor driving down the road that found out
and was listened to this, what would they need to know? Why?
Why would they want to contact.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
You a contractor yeah, as in like a non union one.
Speaker 1 (08:06):
Or yeah if it was a you mentioned you work
with both contractors and union folks, or even even a
union shop guy. Who whoever? Who are the people that
you'd want to hear this and why would they need
to contact.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
Well, from a from a union side, any contractor who
is is signatory with one of the local unions within
the upper high value building trades is is already kind
of already signing into Yeah, you're you're agreeing to because
they're they're matching the contribution that the union side makes
essentially is how is how it is designated to work
with the purpose of marketing and advocating for them on
(08:40):
their behalf? Is kind of how this whole thing was formed.
For a non union contractor, you know, who would be
considering going uh signatory into into with one of the unions. Uh,
you know, the main message to them is just you know,
you you want to unions. What they do is they
pay their people, you know, a fair wage, and then
(09:01):
they also have the benefits side of things, which which
is nearly matches the wage, if not more than matches
the wage when you factor in you know, the health
benefits and the retirement and things of that nature. So
I it's kind of just a way to you know,
give your workers what they deserve. And that's the message
of unions as a whole, not to you know, not
to speak down on any non union contractors because you
(09:23):
know they're doing they're doing what they can as well.
But that's just where you know, the message from the
union side.
Speaker 1 (09:28):
Yeah, we always said different strokes for different folks. But
I just wanted, you know, the people that might hear
this to understand how that might work if someone were
starting their own company, at least maybe discuss with get
with you all to discuss what those options are, what
would work potentially best for them.
Speaker 2 (09:42):
Yeah, if you're starting, you know, a contracting company and
you're interested in being a union contractor, most certainly reach
out and then whatever field of work that you're in,
whether it be carpentry or you know, hvac or plumbing
and pipe fitting, I could help facilitate putting you in
touch with with who the business manage would be to
that specific union.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
So then counselors anyone in the schools, teachers, whatnot that
we have. I mean, let's face it, most teachers probably
interact with students all day long in May here. You know,
I just really don't even know what I'm gonna do
with my life. What's the best road for someone like that? Again,
contact you all or talk to someone in the school
to find out how they can connect these young people up.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
Yep, I think you know. One of my goals is
to educate every guidance counselor on the benefits of the
trades because you know, they're not for everybody, just like
college isn't for everybody, but they are for kids who
you know, like working with their hands and you know,
like to see a finished project and know that they
had a role in that. And the big selling point is,
(10:47):
you know, with the trades is no debt. These apprenticeships
are paid apprenticeships.
Speaker 1 (10:52):
Oh that's a say that phrase again.
Speaker 2 (10:54):
No debt. No debt. Yeah, that's a big parents love
to hear that. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
But I think I'm starting to talk with young people
that are realizing in saying that I'm not going to
go to do this thing of college or this whatever
because I really am not in a position to incur.
Speaker 2 (11:07):
That kind of debt right correct. And you know, more
times than not, kids will go to college just because
they feel like that's what they have to do with
really no plan in place, and then make it a
year or two and depending on where you go, that
could put you into thirty forty thousand dollars in debt.
But if you go to a local college, you know
wouldn't necessarily be that much, but still it puts you,
(11:27):
puts you in debt when you have really no plan
in place, and then you know you might drop out
and you might be looking for a job and trying
to get in front of those type of kids and say, hey,
don't don't waste your time going. You know, if you're
not dead set on it, you have a good career
waiting for you here if you want it well.
Speaker 1 (11:44):
And I think we're going to need lots of trade
type folks, plumbers and electricians, and those type of things,
much like some of the other fields of nursing and
other teachers. I suppose even you know, there's there's looking
at shortages in those.
Speaker 2 (11:58):
Yep, yep. So I've you know, done some really online
and within the next five to ten years, they feel
like a big wave of tradesmen are going to be
retiring and there's going to be a need. There already
is a need, but there will definitely be a jurassic
need coming up. And that's you know why it's good
to get out and get ahead of this and try
(12:18):
and get the ball rolling. Now, even kids in junior high,
it doesn't hurt to you know, plant the seed in
them that this is this is an option.
Speaker 1 (12:25):
You know, as we're talking to some of the schools
and people and businesses, that's what we're hearing too, is
even the sixth, seventh, and eighth grades begin to have
them start looking at what it is. Because we're at
a point now, I guess in the valley where maybe
fifty percent are going to go to college and fifty
percent aren't. Yep, and those fifty you know, and if
they know that and that's what they've decided, the fifty
(12:45):
percent that aren't we want to encourage to look into
something that is going to be a career. Yeah, you
can start a part time or hourly job or whatever,
just to you know, put food on your own little
apartment table. If we want to be so blunt, but
to look at something that's going to actually be a career.
If you decide someday you're gonna want a family, have kids,
retirement and all that type of thing. The trades offer
(13:08):
a great package to that. Speak to that a little
bit about what it is that a trade career can
offer somebody.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
Yep, that would be a big message to high school students,
you know, know the difference between a job and a career.
You know, like you said, a job is somewhere you
show up. The hourly rate might look good on paper,
but there's nothing else that goes with it. There's no benefits,
there's no health, there's no four oh one K, there's
no any type of retirement plan, there's no paid time off,
(13:35):
whereas in a career, you know, with the trades, you
have a you can kind of see your trajectory. Your
apprenticeship may last four to five years once you become
a journeyman, which is when you get out of your apprenticeship,
you're making the top wage scale you can journeyman. Yeah,
well essentially what that means, so why they call it that.
When you're in a union and you reach journeyman status,
(13:59):
you're free to travel around to any local union in
the country should you want to, should you want to
go somewhere, for you're an electrician, Yeah, and you're here
in local IBW and you feel like going across the country,
You're you're more than welcome to go sign their book
and and try and get on a job with them.
So that's kind of where that term is for. But yeah,
(14:20):
with with when you're in a trade, you're you know,
you're going to get stuff negotiated on your behalf. Your
wages are going to go up. You're never going to
have you know, you're never gonna have to worry about
uh things going down or getting worse. You know. Sometimes
if works slow, you may be laid off, but that's
you know, not always common fact of life. Sometimes, Yeah, absolutely,
(14:42):
And you can even move into higher roles. I mean
all these all these unions have uh business managers, business agents, presidents.
You can move into the internationals, which are above the
local unions, so there there's definitely room for advancement. And
and like I said, it's it's a fan only sustaining job.
I mean, it's it's it's always going to be there
(15:02):
and it's always going to be there to support you.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
And when you mentioned that, it made me just think,
as you're beginning of career like that, there isn't anything
to say that you can't begin to start taking certification
classes or even very part time, you know, if you're
really enjoying this, but you also like that management side,
starting to look at getting a bachelor's in business very slowly,
one class at a time. That's how I did my
(15:24):
seminary degree over thirteen years, one class at the time. Yeah,
I said, there's a picture of persistence. But that's how
I could do it with kids in a full time job.
Speaker 2 (15:33):
Yep, it doesn't hurt. And there are plenty of examples
of guys who started out, you know, in a union
and then moved over to the contractor side, in you
know management or in project management or or you know,
in a front office type role. Like you said, if
you do want to pursue a more management style approach.
Speaker 1 (15:52):
Well you've probably seen over the years in your other
jobs and now in especially in this one. What the
people you work with, different leadership styles in those things,
how would you describe maybe yours and who may be
in your life, whether it's family, business, professor, or whatever
may have had an influence on you. We love to
talk about leadership stories and mentor stories.
Speaker 2 (16:13):
Yep, A couple people, not that I'm really I mean
I'm thirty three, so I still don't really feel like
a leader yet. But but if I but if I
was to, if I was to throw out some influences,
I would say, first, I had a a high school
(16:35):
football coach. He was a legend here in the valley,
Ty Fleming, and he was one of those guys that
you just respected and you knew to respect him. But
he wasn't like a yeller and a screamer. I mean sometimes,
but but he was. He knew when to when to yell,
but he also knew when to give you a compliment
and when to be nice. And I think that's a
(16:59):
great trait because I'm not I would never be a
yeller and a screamer at somebody. But you also want
that respect from people to where they know you know
not to take advantage of you or not to and
and he just had that way about him, so you know,
he's definitely one. Conversely, uh, my my boss for my
(17:19):
past eight years in my prior roles was a guy
named Eric petho local guy, and and he was he
was just a character, always joking with people, always having
a good time. And I like that approach as well
because that that really opens you up to you know,
to where everybody's your friend and everybody's your contact. And
(17:41):
I think that's a good approach too, because you never
want to burn a bridge and you always I feel
like you always want to be friendly with everybody and
and even if you know things don't go your way,
you know, take the take the higher road and be
nice because you never know when when that's going to
come back at some point in life.
Speaker 1 (17:56):
It's like John Maxwell's new book, High Road Leadership.
Speaker 2 (17:59):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (17:59):
There's definitely ways to be a low road leader and
definitely ways to be middle of the road, but high
roads what you want to go for. Well, I've known
you for the six months, You've been hearing a little
bit prior to that, and what I've noticed in you
is you're kind of a networker, people person Yep, talk
to our audience about that a little bit, because I
don't bring enough of that out, you know, with AI
and zooms and still you got the phone hound people,
(18:22):
and that's fine. I've worked with plenty of people that
are very good on the phone. I'm a networker. I
think you're a networker. What in that is it for
you that you would still encourage people as I'd like
to say, to just show up?
Speaker 2 (18:34):
Yeah, people skills. I mean, like I said, I don't
know if I haven't or not, but I do enjoy
I do enjoy talking with people and these networking events,
and I just I like to always hear people talk.
I try and just sit back and hear their stories
and ask questions about them as opposed to just bombarding
(18:54):
them with stuff about me. You know. I think that's key.
I think that networking as a whole. You know, when
I was younger and even in college, like didn't really
understand what it was. But it's it's so important to
have as large of a circle as you can of people,
you know, because again you never know, you know, down
the road where it's going to come back to to
(19:17):
your benefit or something like that. So with my prior role.
The reason I, like I said, I got to project
best is one of these contractors you know, knew me
from that and got me into that. Now. The reason
they knew me from that role is because for five years,
every year during this renewal period, we'll say, I would
walk in and they would tell me no, no thanks,
(19:38):
right to my face. I was always a walk in
type person. And then lo and behold. One of these years,
their person at their company who was a competitor of
mine left and he called me and he said, you
know what, you walked in for five straight years. I
figured I'd give you a call because my contact left
and give you a chance. Yeah, And that's kind of
(20:00):
you know, that speaks to that in person type where
it still matters to see a name with a face
and have an in person type conversation.
Speaker 1 (20:07):
But you even upgraded my whole point there from not
only just networking, but persistence, Yeah, of never giving up,
show up, don't give up, and good things could happen.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
And I think we need to be telling that too.
And we've we've even started with our business after hours
we did in training up at West Liberty, start working
with young folks now to say, you know, this is
how you present yourself, this is how you talk to people,
and you just you just do it. I mean it
really is almost a Nike story to some degree.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
You just do it. Yeah. Class, Yeah, business classes and
all that and that I took are definitely a big thing.
But you know, the people skills are kind of an
intangible I don't know if you can really teach that.
I mean you can to some people, but some people
just may not you know, have them. But those that do,
I think, you know, you can really be successful by
(20:59):
getting out there and kind of marketing yourself.
Speaker 1 (21:02):
When I think one of the things, Nathan, that we
all need to do, you all ov cec us the schools.
We need to be helping in that personal development, in
that kind of a training situation and encouraging mentoring. We
need people that have experience taking those that don't getting
to know them and helping them. Just saw the movie Forge,
and it's basically The Forge, and it's one of those
(21:24):
helping young men become real grown men. And one of
the scenes in it, the guy says, Okay, stand up,
I'm gonna teach you how to look someone in the eye,
shake their hand, and tell them who you are. And
I'm like, oh my gosh, that art is so lost
and we need to do that.
Speaker 2 (21:40):
Yep, yep, And I'll give it. I'll give a shout out.
I know you'll like this because he's your coworker. Ross
seems like a Ross salvatory at the chamber. Yeah, I'm
really good, well spoken, young guy who seems to get
you know, he just gets it. He gets the networking
aspect of everything and how he presents himself. And I
(22:02):
brought that up because we had a little golf outing
with him, you know, a month or so ago, and
I had a friend with me who had nothing to
do with Project Best or nothing to do with business,
and he was just he said, Wow, this kid's like
really impressive for just being fresh out of college. And
so shout out to Ross. Absolutely good.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
Well, and guys like Ross are ones we need to
lean on to be mentors to the people that are
just a few years behind him.
Speaker 2 (22:24):
Yep.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
I mean us older guys, and I'm a lot older
than you, we should do it as well. But to
have someone just a few years older, I mean, someone
can look at that and go okay, I can do
that now. I don't have to have gray hair and
be going bald or whatever. You know, we can do
it now, and I think I think that's one of
the things we're hoping to do more of with the chamber,
with our collaboration partners, which is what I call Project
(22:45):
Best and all the things going on in the city
and the county and the region. We're collaborating to help
people grow and to help businesses grow and increase everything
in this valley. And I think that's that's what's going
to help it. One of the things I love to ask,
and in a lot of cases it's a collaboration story
more than one incident. But has there been like this
(23:05):
tough life lesson something that you've learned, something that's shaped you.
And maybe it's even in family or work or sports.
We find a lot of people talk about sports stories
and things that shape them. Is there anything that you're like, yeah,
that happened. I like to encourage people to say, you know,
just hang with it because of anything that you can
(23:26):
recollect in your life that's like, yep, learn from that one.
Speaker 2 (23:31):
Nothing specific. I mean I grew. I mean I was
a lifelong football, basketball, and baseball player all the way
through high school. So I mean plenty of just random little.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
Well, if you stayed healthy, that's pretty good.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
But as an adult, I think just being able to
stay well one thing, you know, one piece of advice.
I guess, yeah, and that's fine. Would I think being
mentally tough is important, being able to take criticism and
you know that that kind of goes back to that
coach I mentioned, you know, being able to be yelled
at and told and told you did something wrong, but
(24:07):
understand that they're not being personal with you. They're they're
coaching you or they're trying to make you better. And yeah,
so that that I would say, that's a huge thing
in my life that I've I feel like I've been
good with is being able to be coach and being
able to be you know, disciplined or so and not
taking it personally. You have to be able to do that,
(24:30):
and then I'm a you know, I'm a big believer,
like I said, being mentally being mentally tough. Been big
into running these past couple of years of my life
as an adult, probably five years, and it just I
feel like, you know, it's not fun, but but it
teaches you to to persevere and push through it, you know,
so that kind of teaches us some life lessons. But
(24:51):
but that's really in terms of jobs are you know,
nothing really not one moment that is really like what there's.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Great advice you have there. And my wife talks to
our kids about this all the time. They say, I
really don't want to take that class. That's gonna be
too hard. She's like, no, do it. Challenge yourself. Yeah,
but when you do that, you've got to realize that
you're probably not gonna do as well as you might
in other things. And whether it's a professor or a
coach or a boss, you might take a job you're thinking,
even if it's part time, they're gonna they're gonna have
(25:21):
some updates for you on how y' ought to be
doing things and some criticisms. And hopefully if there are
more of a coaching boss than a managing boss, it's
gonna be Okay, you did this, We don't need to
have it that way. Here's how you have to do it.
But take that and learn from it.
Speaker 2 (25:36):
Yeah, yep. And if I'm ever too, you know later
in life, have have any kind of managerial or role
like that, you know, definitely take the coaching approach as
to the to the iron fist approach.
Speaker 1 (25:48):
Yeah, in the leadership seminar I'm working up now, I
have an intro on it and we talk about I
found this online. It was fabulous. I think the guy
was from the John Maxwell organization. But he talked about manage,
teach and coach, and his perspective was ten percent managed,
ten percent teach, eighty percent coach. You know, there are
times you have to manage to say this has to
be done this way for whatever reason, maybe it's a
(26:10):
federal regulation or whatnot. Teach is something you know and
you're just wanting to teach someone to take them to
the next level. But for the most part, it's coaching.
It's assisting along the way, getting in the trenches with
them and helping them out.
Speaker 2 (26:22):
I agree, completely agree.
Speaker 1 (26:25):
Let's see, so we're doing a lot of work with
entrepreneurs now, and I know you may be involved in
some of that down the road. Maybe you are even
now with potential business incubator, that type of thing. In
what you've seen in your life experience so far, what's
some advice for an aspiring CEO, someone that's going to
move up start their own business. What might you have
(26:48):
to suggest for them.
Speaker 2 (26:50):
I would say, don't rush into anything. Not that I'm
a business owner or an entrepreneur myself, but just in
my life experiences and in my prior roles, we we
did run into a lot of entrepreneurs who were starting
companies and we were just one little piece of their company.
But I would say, do your due diligence and in
(27:13):
looking into what all goes into starting a business, because
I know, just through people, I know there's a lot
more than what you see on the surface, whether it
be you know, insurances that you didn't even know exist,
or regulations or you know, things of that nature. So
I guess, don't rush into anything. Be super well read
(27:36):
on on whatever it is that you want to do,
and be be very knowledgeable about it, because there's there's
always people out there trying to do the same exact
thing somewhere well.
Speaker 1 (27:46):
And I think we throw in what we've been talking about,
find a mentor in that, find an entrepreneurial mentor do
a little bit of you know, take a small business
class or whatever you can see because you may be
really good at plumbing or electrician even I've seen it,
and media sales and then people go out and start
ad agencies, but they didn't have a clue about how
to run the business. Not that you can't learn that,
(28:07):
but if you, if you shadow or talk to people
or take some classes and realize, Okay, this really is
what I want to do, I can do this. You
might be like, no, I think I better just stay
at what I'm good at and what I love. And
I think people can save themselves a lot of headache
or build that dream if that's really what they want,
if they, like you said, take the time to flesh
it out.
Speaker 2 (28:26):
Yeah, I mean it's definitely a risk, but there can
be a huge reward for people that can execute their plan.
Speaker 1 (28:35):
You've been listening to CEOs, you should know. I'm your host,
Mike Howard from the Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce. Our
guest has been Nathan Budd's executive director of Project Best.
Nathan tell them your email and website again.
Speaker 2 (28:46):
Yep, my email is Nathan at projectbest dot com and
you can find us at project best dot com.
Speaker 1 (28:52):
And we're a part of the iHeart program. Here of CEOs,
you should know all across the country believe any of
the iHeart studio or station websites also at Wheeling Chamber
dot com. Under media there's our podcast link and you
can hear any of the podcasts we have done over
the last couple of years for CEOs you should Know,
and some of the national ones are available as well.
(29:14):
That iHeart does some great podcasts with national CEOs and
leaders all around the company, all around the country. And
our local sponsor here for this market is our good
friend at Friends at West Banco Banks, so you know
how to get a hold of them because there's a
lot of them around, or contact us at the Chamber
if there's anyone specific you would like to talk to there. Nathan,
(29:35):
thanks for being with us. We appreciate it very much.
Thank you for having me, Mike, and I'll probably see
you on the golf course a few more times this year.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Right definitely been the Chamber sc.
Speaker 1 (29:43):
Yeah, Chambers Scramble every September and in our career fairs
years in September hours in October. Lots of great ways
for people to find out what's supposed to about, Sir.
Appreciate you being with us. Thank you, Mike, See you
next time on CEOs you should Know.
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