Get Vertical! with Mike McCalley

From Poverty to Pricing Power | Why Great Companies Undercharge

Casey Brown

Casey Brown didn’t grow up thinking she would become an entrepreneur. She grew up in a blue-collar family where money was always tight — close enough to the edge that the fear of poverty shaped many of her early decisions. That fear led her into engineering, into corporate America, and eventually into a moment…

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Latest

Business Services
A CEO’s Blueprint for Career Success: Leading with Love to Drive Performance and Culture

Leadership right now feels heavier than it did just a few years ago. Teams are stretched, expectations are high, and many employees are quietly disengaged. In fact, Gallup’s 2025 U.S. data shows that only about 31% of employees are actively engaged at work, leaving the majority feeling disconnected or indifferent. For CEOs and senior…

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Articles Sports and Entertainment
Virtual Physical Therapy and the Changing Landscape of Athlete Care

Virtual care is no longer an experiment—it’s a structural shift in healthcare. Telehealth usage remains significantly higher than pre-2020 levels, and providers across disciplines are rethinking how to deliver higher-quality outcomes without the overhead and insurance constraints of traditional clinics. Meanwhile, recreational and endurance sports participation continues to rise, with millions of Americans registering…

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Business Services
Get Vertical! Growing with Sales for Success

Buying behavior has shifted dramatically. Today’s B2B customers do most of their research before ever speaking with a salesperson. In fact, 61% of B2B buyers say they prefer a rep-free buying experience, according to a 2025 Gartner survey. At the same time, U.S. retail e-commerce sales exceeded $1.192 trillion in 2024. Growth still depends…

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Business Services
Get Vertical! Going from Idea to the Top 1% in Less Than 3 Years

Independent retail is operating in one of the most competitive environments in decades. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, roughly 20% of new businesses fail within their first year, and a whopping 50% don’t make it to year five. At the same time, consumers are increasingly choosing brands that offer community, authenticity,…

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Articles Business Services
Building a Business with Grit and Revolutionizing Workplace Safety

Wally Steidley is the founder of Indigo Compliance and Co-Founder of The Safety Sherpa, bringing over 25 years of expertise in workplace safety. His consulting firm provides high-touch, hands-on safety solutions that protect workers and reduce workplace incidents. Meanwhile, The Safety Sherpa provides the world’s first fully mobile-friendly safety training platform to bring safety…

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Articles Business Services
Scaling Smarter: Leadership Lessons from Moxie360 Marketing’s Founder

Trisha Hendrickson is the founder and CEO of Moxie360 Marketing, a full-service marketing agency that has grown from a solo venture to a 14-person team. With 35 years of experience, Trisha specializes in digital marketing, brand strategy, and AI-driven innovation to help businesses grow and adapt in a changing landscape. In this episode of…

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Latest

career
What to Do When Your Career Feels Stuck: Invest in Yourself, Stay Intentional, and Build the Right Network
April 29, 2026

Work doesn’t feel the way it used to. Between new tech, changing expectations, and the constant pressure to keep up, a lot of people—even those who look successful on paper—are quietly wondering what’s next. In fact, recent workforce studies suggest a large share of employees feel disengaged or uncertain about their next move, despite…

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Rural School
How Rural Schools Are Redefining School Safety Through Relationships and Proactive Systems
April 28, 2026

On Principles of Change, a podcast by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso sits down with Dr. Miguel Salazar, principal of Sundown Middle School in Sundown, Texas, to explore how one rural district is redefining school safety through culture, systems, and human connection. Together, they unpack how proactive frameworks, community values, and intentional relationship-building can…

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StudentSafe
Understanding Raptor StudentSafe
April 28, 2026

In this episode of School Safety Today, host Dr. Amy Grosso speaks with Chris Noell, Chief Product Officer at Raptor Technologies, and Will Durgin, Director of Student Well-Being, about the vision behind StudentSafe and how it helps schools move from reactive responses to proactive student support. Together, they emphasize that safer schools depend on giving staff…

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school safety
Going Slow to Go Fast in School Safety Leadership
April 28, 2026

In this episode of the Principles of Change podcast, presented by Raptor Technologies, host Dr. Amy Grosso talks with Tim Dykes, Assistant Principal for Culture and Climate at York Community High School in Elmhurst, Illinois. The conversation highlights how strong relationships, student voice, and steady long-term leadership can help schools build environments where people feel…

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Other Get Vertical! with Mike McCalley
Building Resilient Leadership and Success Through Perseverance, Faith, and Values: Tim Maitland’s Story
December 4, 2024

MarketScale’s innovative and resilient approach to B2B marketing has disrupted traditional models, empowering companies to engage their communities through organic and scalable content creation. By adapting to challenges like the pandemic and fostering client independence in content production, MarketScale demonstrates how innovation and values-driven leadership can redefine industry standards. As organizations face growing pressure to…

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The Future of Business Success Lies in Real-Time Feedback and Sales Process Automation
May 22, 2024

Amid the rapid pace of technological advancements, sales processes are undergoing significant changes. Companies are increasingly pressured to enhance efficiency, accuracy, and customer satisfaction. According to Forrester’s 2023 report, a staggering 90% of global business buyers experienced stalled purchasing processes due to economic headwinds, emphasizing the importance of price transparency and the need for…

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When Human Resources Goes Global: How Multinational Corporations Can Align Company Culture Across Borders
May 16, 2024

In the rapidly globalizing world of business, human resources (HR) play a pivotal role not just in managing personnel but in shaping corporate strategy and culture across international borders. Chuck Heaton, the Vice President of Human Resources at PERMA-PIPE, brings to light the complexities and nuances of managing HR on a global scale, drawing…

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From Team Building to Brand, Content and Traffic: The Secrets to Building a Successful Digital Marketing Agency
May 16, 2024

In an era where digital marketing is pivotal for business success, entrepreneurs face the daunting task of not just navigating this complex industry, but also building and sustaining a dynamic team. Matthew Cretzman, at the helm of Stormbreaker Digital, shares his five-year journey marked by trials, learning, and unexpected hurdles—a journey resonating with many…

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Leveraging Economic Shifts and Corporate Knowledge can Unlock New Opportunities in Emerging Markets
May 16, 2024

Identifying and capitalizing on emerging market opportunities is crucial for entrepreneurs and investors in today’s fast-paced global economy. With entrepreneurship in Latin America echoing the boom of Silicon Valley during the dot-com era, today’s episode dives into the dynamic growth and untapped opportunities in this vibrant region. Amidst this backdrop, what drives successful navigation…

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Voice of a Customer: A Marketing Strategy Deep Dive with David Loomis
August 24, 2023

In the latest episode of Get Vertical!, host Mike McCalley sits down with David Loomis, the Founder and President of Loomis Marketing and author of “Marketing is Everything We Do!”. This candid conversation dives into shaping marketing strategy through the voice of the customer, Loomis’s journey in innovation, the challenges he faced within his…

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The Life of a Start-Up: VOMO
August 23, 2023

Here’s a hard truth: only 18% of entrepreneurs successfully launch their start-ups. Most of these lucky few individuals would probably tell you that the road to success isn’t rosy. An entrepreneur’s ability to connect, build, and maintain high-quality relationships with their team and investors is key to making it past the first few years…

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Sabrina Wilson and the Power of Perseverance: Part 2 of 2
August 7, 2023

In the second part of a two-part Get Vertical! Episode with guest Sabrina Wilson, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at dormakaba Americas, host Mike McCalley continues his look into the importance of perseverance in the workforce. McCalley and Wilson focus on energy, where success is likely, and the application of Moore’s law in…

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Sabrina Wilson and the Power of Perseverance: Part 1 of 2
August 7, 2023

In the first part of a two-part Get Vertical! episode, host Mike McCalley welcomes Sabrina Wilson, Senior Vice President of Human Resources at dormakaba Americas. Wilson shares her unique journey and career, from her upbringing as the daughter of teenage pregnancy to becoming a first-generation college student. Wilson discusses the influence of her father’s…

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