In this heavy but deeply inspiring episode of Pressure Tested, Kelly sits down with Heather Ormand to discuss the hidden realities of high-functioning addiction and the life-changing work being done at Nexus.+3 Heather opens up about her personal journey, sharing how she started drinking at 14 to cope with the internal pressures of being a perfectionist and the "perfect" oldest daughter. She details what it was like to hide her severe depression and alcoholism while successfully climbing the corporate ladder at a major public accounting firm.+4 Now almost 15 years sober, Heather uses her professional background to lead Nexus, a female-only substance use disorder treatment facility in the DFW area. She explains the unique challenges women face in recovery and why Nexus allows mothers to bring up to three children into residential treatment with them.+4 In this episode, we cover: The Mask of Perfectionism: Heather’s experience as a high-functioning alcoholic who drank to blackout while graduating summa cum laude and excelling in her career.+2 The Mission of Nexus: Why a female-only treatment environment is crucial for vulnerability and trauma healing.+1 Ending Generational Cycles: How treating women in all stages of pregnancy improves birth outcomes and why allowing kids to live on campus keeps families out of the foster system.+3 Reframing Recovery: Why Nexus uses the word "recurrence" instead of "relapse" and how society needs to rethink medication-assisted treatments like Suboxone.+2 Building for the Future: A look into the massive $35 million capital campaign to rebuild the Nexus campus to better serve vulnerable families.+1 Would you like me to write a few comments you could pin to the top of the YouTube video to encourage viewer engagement? 01:16 - Welcome to the podcast: Kelly praises Heather’s cool and collected nonprofit leadership. 04:06 - What is Nexus? The history of Dallas's female-only substance use disorder treatment facility. 06:49 - Breaking generational cycles: Why Nexus allows mothers to bring up to three children into residential treatment. 08:39 - The 90-day family program: Building healthy routines and attachments between moms and kids. 12:28 - A magical success story: Zayden’s 8th birthday during the COVID lockdown and McKenzie's journey to becoming a police officer. 18:05 - The heavy side of rec...

In this episode of Pressure Tested, Kelly Roberts sits down with Lindsey Wendler, Managing Director at 414 Capital, for a masterclass on Mergers and Acquisitions. Lindsey shares her unconventional journey from starting a jewelry business in Europe to becoming one of the few female leaders in Dallas investment banking. If you are a business owner thinking about an exit, this conversation is mandatory listening. Lindsey breaks down the complex world of M&A into simple terms, explaining why selling a business is like selling a house—but with much higher stakes. They dive deep into the current state of the market, the truth about the "Silver Tsunami," and why industries like HVAC are being flooded with Private Equity cash. Key topics covered: The M&A Process: What actually happens when you decide to sell, and why you need a Quality of Earnings (QofE) report before you ever go to market. Deal Killers: Why deals fall apart at the finish line and how to manage the intense emotions of selling your life's work. Valuation Reality Check: Why your business might not be worth what you think it is, and the "golden" metrics (like recurring revenue) that buyers pay a premium for. Women in Finance: Lindsey opens up about the intensity of investment banking and being a female leader in a male-dominated industry. Whether you're running a $2M trade business or a $200M enterprise, Lindsey’s insights on preparation, infrastructure, and financial discipline will help you build a company that is actually built to sell.

In this episode of Pressure Tested, we sit down with Shelley Hines, CEO of DCG Environmental, to discuss the gritty reality of building a multi-million dollar business in a male-dominated industry. Shelley shares how she turned a "cracker box" downsizing and a depleted 401(k) into a thriving environmental consulting firm. We dig into the specific "pressure tests" of scaling, from the intrusive state inspections required to prove she wasn't just a "paper wife" to get certified , to the cash-flow strain of paying new hires for seven months before they can legally generate revenue. Shelley also opens up about the "myth" of black mold , why she fires toxic employees even when it hurts , and how she earns respect on the job site without wearing heels . If you want to know what it really takes to scale a blue-collar business—and how to survive the financial punches that come with it—this conversation is for you.

In this episode of "Pressure Tested," host Kelly Roberts sits down with the multi-talented and highly-driven entrepreneur, Alexia Tuttle. Alexia shares her extraordinary journey from a chaotic, poverty-stricken childhood in Connecticut to becoming a successful partner in a decade-old worldwide nutrition coaching business, a commercial real estate investor, and co-founder of a new hydration brand. Alexia opens up about the core philosophies that drove her success: an intense focus on logic over emotion, which she adopted because emotional safety felt unsafe , and the discovery of discipline through competitive bodybuilding, which provided the structure she craved. She details how she and her husband, a registered dietitian and pro bodybuilder , scaled their primary nutrition coaching business by 250% annually by prioritizing efficiency and a high work ethic , eventually moving to Dallas for greater personal and professional freedom. The conversation takes a deep dive into Alexia's pivot to commercial real estate. She candidly recounts a massive "Pressure Tested" failure: losing over $200,000 in collective earnest money by partnering with untrustworthy individuals on two initial multi-family deals in North Carolina and North Georgia. This painful lesson solidified her commitment to meticulous due diligence (underwriting 200+ deals before finding the right one) , local investing , and the importance of a transparent and honest gut check on partners. Finally, Alexia and Kelly discuss the importance of radical transparency in business, arguing it is the "new currency," especially with investors. Alexia shares her unique approach to leadership, working with her partners, and managing investor relations by giving full disclosure—including the bad news—to build long-term trust and reputation over a single deal's profit. The episode concludes with a humorous look at her passion for bodybuilding, the pitfalls of the "all-or-nothing" mindset in fitness , and the unexpected creation of their third venture, a hydration brand. 00:00:00 - Transparency is the New Currency for Business

In this episode of "Pressure Tested," host Kelly Roberts goes boots-on-the-ground with Yesenia Garcia, the VP of Sales and Marketing at MTD Mechanical. With 25 years in the industry, Yesenia shares her incredible journey from answering phones as a 19-year-old temp to becoming a powerhouse executive in the construction world. Kelly and Yesenia kick things off by tackling the industry's biggest hurdle—the talent gap—and how the Garland ISD P-TECH program is changing the game by showing high school students that construction careers go way beyond just swinging a hammer. Kelly digs into the nuts and bolts of MTD’s success, exploring how they built a $30 million business by owning the "dirty air" renovation niche that other contractors are too scared to touch. But it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. The duo gets real about a massive "Pressure Tested" failure: a disastrous expansion into plumbing that cost the company $300,000 and nearly forced them to close their doors. They unpack the gritty leadership it took to survive that crisis, retain talent when competitors were offering "dollar raises," and the importance of transparent communication with the field. Finally, Kelly highlights Yesenia’s recent recognition as the Regional Hispanic Contractors Association’s Executive of the Year. They have a candid conversation about the "confidence gap" women face in the trades and why it is critical to "have a voice" in the boardroom. Yesenia also breaks down her disciplined 5 AM routine and the tactical 15-minute "Daily Huddle" that keeps her sales and engineering teams aligned and moving fast.

In this insightful episode of the "Pressure Tested" podcast, host Kelly Roberts sits down with LaurieGrace, the founder of Rethink Results and a former "Big 4" CPA turned executive coach. Starting with the staggering reality that Americans spend an average of 90,000 hours of their lives at work , Laurie Grace dives deep into her mission of making workplaces work for everyone. The conversation moves beyond standard HR talk and gets into the hard data of human capital. Laurie Grace and Kelly explore the science behind employee engagement, discussing Gallup's Q12 survey and why measuring "people potential" is critical for business performance. They debate the nuances of popular assessment tools, specifically Predictive Index (PI) versus Culture Index , and share personal revelations from their own CliftonStrengths results—including Kelly's realization of how her "High A" drive in PI shapes her independent leadership style. A major focus of the episode centers on women in leadership. Laurie Grace shares sobering statistics from recent research, including the 50-year projection to reach gender parity and the "Executive Presence" gap that often holds women back. The duo also unpacks the game-changing concept of "Splitters vs. Blenders"—a framework for understanding how different employees prefer to integrate (or separate) their work and personal lives

Join host Kelly Robert in this insightful and energetic episode of Pressure Tested as she welcomes Carson Elvis, the dynamic Business Development lead for the Wood Frame Division at Moss & Associates. Despite being the podcast's youngest guest, Carson offers an incredible level of professional wisdom, detailing her rapid ascent in the highly competitive Dallas commercial real estate (CRE) market. Carson shares how her early experiences in service jobs, from a donut shop to fine dining, instilled crucial people skills. She discusses her transition from a Public Relations focus to business development, emphasizing that the role is less about transactions and more about genuinely connecting and building an authentic network. Her success story is marked by strategic external involvement, including her leadership roles in organizations like Ladies in CRE and the Alabama Alumni Association, which she uses to bridge generational gaps and foster professional mentorship. A core focus of this discussion is Carson's philosophy of business development: prioritizing internal relationships, maintaining high-touch follow-up (the handwritten thank-you note is a secret weapon!), and being a meticulous "steward of your word." She also delves into the unique niche of wood frame construction within CRE and how she and Moss approach this specialized market. Finally, Carson addresses the personal and professional pressure of being an openly opinionated young woman in business, offering a powerful perspective on political tolerance and the importance of logic over emotion in modern discourse. This episode is a masterclass in combining strategic ambition with authentic self-expression—a must-listen for young professionals and anyone looking to enhance their networking and leadership skills.

In this raw and revealing episode of "Pressure Tested," host Kelly Roberts sits down with Garrett Moss, the driven leader behind Moss Utilities. Garrett, a fifth-generation utility contractor, shares the deeply personal and intensely challenging journey of building Moss Utilities from the ground up, even as he navigated significant family and financial struggles. The conversation dives into the early days of Moss Utilities, from its humble beginnings in Garrett's upstairs bedroom and a $60,000 loan from his grandparents, to its rapid, yet almost disastrous, growth. Garrett and Kelly pull back the curtain on the harsh realities of entrepreneurship in the construction industry, including battling a severe cash flow crisis, navigating high-interest loans, and making tough decisions like massive layoffs and even maxing out personal credit cards to fund employee Christmas bonuses. Listeners will hear how a combination of personal transformation (including Garrett's impactful journey with 75 Hard and his decision to quit drinking), strategic leadership changes, and the crucial support of a "true entrepreneurial bank" like Texas Security, helped Moss Utilities claw its way out of a deep financial hole. The episode highlights the pivotal role of key individuals like Rich Flexner and Parker, and the power of embracing programs like Traction for organizational clarity and growth. The discussion culminates in the exciting announcement of Moss Utilities' transition to an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), a testament to Garrett's unique vision of legacy that prioritizes his people over a traditional private equity exit. He candidly shares his belief that empowering employees through ownership creates a more resilient and impactful business, ensuring its long-term success. Kelly also reflects on Moss Utilities' commendable commitment to fostering women leaders in a male-dominated industry, emphasizing their dedication to providing opportunities and mentorship. This episode is a compelling story of grit, self-awareness, and the unwavering belief in people, proving that even when faced with immense pressure, a strong foundation and clear purpose can lead to extraordinary triumph.

Join Kelly Roberts on "Pressure Tested" as she sits down with the incredibly candid and competitive Emily Ackerman. In this no-holds-barred episode, Emily, a powerhouse in business development, spills the secrets to her unconventional success, from her surprising pivot from radio to accounting to her unique approach to building relationships. Get ready for an energetic discussion where Emily reveals why she thrives on making competitors "look bad," her refreshingly honest take on safeguarding time as a new mom, and how she's mastered the art of human connection in a professional world often dominated by cold calls. You'll hear her unfiltered thoughts on everything from pop culture analogies for sales to the surprising influence of social media, and why she believes the "golden rule" is the ultimate business strategy. Plus, don't miss her hilarious insights into parenting and what's next on her ambitious horizon. If you're looking for an inspiring and entertaining conversation about doing things differently and succeeding on your own terms, this episode is pressure-tested and approved!

On this episode of Pressure Tested, host Kelly Roberts welcomes Norma Lehman, a woman who, in her own words, was a "late bloomer," diving into college in her thirties. But as you'll hear, Norma's journey, from a keen interior designer shaping healing environments to a force in architectural leadership, reveals a consistent truth: it was always about people. It’s about that quiet, fundamental drive to lift others up. Norma's going to pull back the curtain on something fascinating: CliftonStrengths. She’ll show you why we've all been looking at it wrong, fixating on those so-called "lesser strengths." It's a common trap, one she'll admit to falling into herself, even with her own surprising revelation about "ideation." But trust me, it's not about patching up perceived weaknesses. It’s about recognizing and amplifying the raw power you already possess. We'll dig into how to truly identify what ignites your personal engine, how to navigate those crucial career crossroads, and the evolving landscape of leadership – that vital shift from merely being a "boss" to becoming a "coach." Norma also lays bare the real challenges women face in industries often dominated by men, and that constant, almost universal tug-of-war between work and home life, the "blender" versus "splitter" dynamic. And then there's Be Pro Be Proud. This isn't just some initiative; it's a mission. Imagine a mobile classroom, packed with cutting-edge AR and VR technology, rolling into schools, planting seeds of possibility in young minds. It's about showing kids that a path in skilled trades isn't just a job, it's a professional, lucrative, and deeply rewarding career. Because at the end of the day, success isn’t always about reaching the very top. Sometimes, it’s about finding that place where you can make the biggest difference, where your unique strengths can truly shine.