66 - Building a Mattress Empire: Lessons in Leadership and Partnership

Ed Delia

Published on: 30/11/2025

In this episode of "Growing Up B2B," host Ed Delia interviews Ron and Kara Shovlin, the husband-and-wife team behind Shovlin Mattress Factory in Fanwood, NJ. They discuss the company’s evolution from a traditional family business to a modern brand, balancing innovation with craftsmanship. Ron and Kara share insights on clear communication, defining roles, and maintaining work-life boundaries as partners.

LeadershipFamily RelationshipFamily BusinessMentorship

24 - Timeless to Trailblazing: How One Family Business Rewrote Its Future

Ed Delia

Published on: 11/06/2025

In this episode of "Growing Up B2B," host Ed Delia interviews Ken Ruh, President and CEO of Carby Corporation, a 75-year-old family-owned precision manufacturing business. Ken shares his journey from large multinational corporations to leading Carby. The episode underscores leadership, adaptability, and a positive work environment as keys to driving growth and success.

Family Business

16 - Adapting to Industry Shifts in a Family Business Environment

Ed Delia

Published on: 07/05/2025

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, host Ed Delia speaks with Paul Steck, president of Exothermic Moldings, about his journey from working in the family business at age 12 to leading it today. Paul discusses the challenges of running a family-owned manufacturing company, including adapting to industry shifts like offshoring. He also shares leadership insights on responsibility, innovation, and putting customers first, offering advice for the next generation of family business leaders.

LeadershipFamily RelationshipInnovation