In this episode of Impact Stories, host Lisa Genovese sits down with Kathryn Kozody, Director of Marketing & Communications at GDI Ainsworth, to explore how customer insight, team alignment, and modern leadership shape meaningful brand impact across both CPG and B2B industries.

With experience spanning entrepreneurship, national brand management, and tech innovation, Kathryn shares how she navigates long sales cycles, legacy brand expectations, and rapid industry shifts—while leading a lean team in one of North America’s largest facility services organizations.

You’ll take away:

• Why customer language is the strongest foundation for brand positioning—and how “true partner” became a defining insight for GDI Ainsworth
  

• How to honor a legacy brand without letting the past become an anchor, especially as the company approaches its centennial milestone
  

• The power of focused, people-first leadership when managing a small team responsible for national impact
  

• How CPG lessons translate into B2B—from scarcity-driven campaigns to understanding what customers really value
  

Whether you're leading marketing in a legacy organization, shifting into new markets, or trying to unlock the story hidden in your customer insights, this episode delivers grounded perspective and real-world examples that resonate across industries.

In this episode of Impact Stories, host Lisa Genovese sits down with Brian Hall, President at GDM, to explore what it means to lead in a complex, data-heavy industry that’s going through both a rebirth and an adolescence at the same time.

Drawing on 40+ years in energy information management, Brian shares how clarity of purpose, strategy-led decision making, and deeply lived values have guided him through market volatility, industry transformation, and organizational change. From recasting GDM’s vision, mission, and values to building a culture rooted in TRUST, he illustrates how to connect data, decisions, and character in everyday leadership.

You’ll take away:

• How the DIKW model (Data, Information, Knowledge, Wisdom) can guide better decisions and turn raw data into trusted insight

• Why revisiting vision, mission, and values with your team—not for them creates alignment, ownership, and a real decision-making compass

• How to lead with confidence in uncertainty by trusting your “compass” (strategy, values, and purpose) instead of waiting for perfect clarity

• What an empowering leadership mindset looks like when you choose your response to events, own your decisions, and lead with integrity

If you’re leading in energy, data, or any industry facing transformation, this episode offers grounded, experience-backed insight on strategy, culture, and leadership that endures beyond market cycles.

In this episode of Impact Stories, host Lisa Genovese chats with Reid Stinson, Senior Marketing & Communications Manager at Neal Brothers Brands and Jonluca Neal, about what it takes to build not one, but two distinct brands in Canada’s competitive CPG landscape.

From launching creative brand activations to staying ahead of grocery tech trends, Reid offers a behind-the-scenes look at how his team is reimagining food and beverage marketing, one campaign at a time.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:

• How Neal Brothers leveraged a bold Pickleball Canada partnership to drive national awareness through an unexpected cultural moment.

• Why in-person, experiential marketing is making a powerful comeback, and how Reid measures its impact on brand equity.

• How curiosity and trendspotting keep both product and distribution arms of the business agile, relevant, and top-of-mind for retailers and consumers alike.

Whether you're a brand marketer, a CPG founder, or just curious about what it takes to stand out in-store and on shelf, Reid’s approach is filled with creative, practical insight.

In this episode of Impact Stories, host Lisa Genovese sits down with Monica Turcotte, Director of Marketing at Ignite Technology, to explore how strategic leadership, clear processes, and a thoughtful approach to AI are helping her team stay grounded, while everything around them accelerates.

With experience leading national marketing teams across retail and tech, Monica shares what it takes to scale with intention, align stakeholders, and keep messaging sharp in an industry that evolves by the minute.

You’ll take away:

• How AI can serve as a strategic challenger, not a replacement, for creative and message testing

• Why structured internal processes are Monica’s secret to agility and focus in fast-paced environments

• • What empathetic leadership looks like when you’re managing change, growth, and distributed teams

  If you’re leading a marketing team, rolling out new tools, or trying to keep strategy on track amid shifting priorities, this episode is packed with insight and grounded advice.

In this episode of Impact Stories, host Lisa Genovese sits down with Kevin Kwan, Director of Marketing and Business Development at Desert Senita Community Health Centers, to unpack how entrepreneurial grit and people-first strategy can create powerful change—even in one of the most complex sectors: healthcare.

Drawing from over 15 years as a business owner and coach, Kevin shares how his hands-on approach to leadership, audience research, and direct-response marketing is reshaping how healthcare connects with rural communities.

In this episode, we explore:
💡 Kevin’s journey from entrepreneur and gym owner to nonprofit marketing leader—and what he brought with him along the way.
💡 His process for building trust in healthcare through authentic connection, plain language copy, and community outreach.
💡 How deep audience insight and cross-functional accountability led to a 26x ROI campaign that launched a brand-new dental service.

Whether you’re in healthcare, nonprofit, or simply passionate about marketing that actually works, Kevin’s perspective will leave you thinking differently about what it takes to lead with impact.

In this episode of Impact Stories, host Lisa Genovese sits down with Kristina Plank, Marketing Manager at Excel Homes, to explore her dynamic career in real estate and consumer marketing. From navigating the fast-paced real estate industry to spearheading transformative campaigns, Kristina’s journey highlights adaptability, creativity, and leadership.

In this episode, we explore:
💡 Kristina’s path from hospitality and tourism marketing to leading impactful strategies in the homebuilding industry.
💡 How she navigates the challenges of the ever-evolving real estate market, including major disruptions like COVID-19.
💡 Her bold approach to brand storytelling, including a highly successful anniversary campaign that redefined Excel Homes’ presence in the market.

In this episode of Impact Stories, host Lisa Genovese sits down with Kelly Palmer, Communications Manager at Enfinite, to uncover her inspiring journey through diverse industries and her role in advancing sustainability initiatives. From building her career across marketing, branding, and ESG to managing large-scale projects, Kelly’s story is a testament to resilience and creativity.

In this episode, we explore:
💡 Kelly’s non-linear career path, from beauty and energy to becoming a one-person marketing department at Enfinite.
💡 How her personal values drive her passion for authentic marketing and ESG initiatives.
💡 Strategies to avoid greenwashing while maintaining transparency and credibility in sustainability efforts.
💡 The challenges and rewards of leading major projects, like Enfinite’s comprehensive website redesign.
💡 Practical advice for marketing professionals balancing limited resources with ambitious goals.

Whether you’re a marketer navigating sustainability, a leader in ESG, or a professional wearing many hats, this episode offers valuable lessons on turning passion into impactful marketing.

In this episode of Impact Stories, host Lisa Genovese sits down with Darren Contardo, CEO of SP Nutraceuticals, whose career has spanned some of the most dynamic and challenging spaces in marketing. From transforming SlimFast during its turnaround to pioneering brand growth in the cannabis and nutraceutical industries, Darren’s journey is packed with bold moves and innovative strategies.

In this episode, we explore:
💡 Darren’s unique career path, beginning with his passion for nutrition and marketing and leading to major roles across multiple industries.
💡 His approach to revitalizing brand equity and the daring decisions that helped him build brand loyalty with large-scale retailers like Walmart.
💡 The importance of “speeder-ship”—acting fast and innovating continually to stay competitive in high-demand markets.
💡 How he tailored his strategies to navigate highly regulated environments, from nutraceuticals to cannabis.
💡 Darren’s view on leveraging market research and staying tuned to emerging trends to drive impactful brand positioning.

Whether you’re a marketing professional, a leader in a high-growth industry, or someone looking to make fearless moves in their career, this episode delivers powerful insights into what it takes to make a lasting impact.