E39: Warrior Guitars Founder J.D. Lewis on 30 Years of Success, Live at NAMM

02/08/24 • 45 min

This week I had the opportunity to attend the largest music trade show in the world the National Association of Music Merchants, also known as the NAMM Show in Anaheim, California. As a guitar enthusiast, I was excited to interview J.D. Lewis, the founder and lead designer of Warrior Guitars and his sons Dran and Gabe. The Lewis family has been showcasing their craft at the NAMM Show for over 30 extraordinary years. J.D. talks about the history of his company, the importance of staying true to oneself, and how the value of family is at the forefront of Warrior Guitar designs. He also shares his views on the music industry and the importance of quality and sincerity. Dran and Gabe discussed their involvement in the company's growth and reputation, their intention of staying true to their niche market and constantly evolving to meet customer demands has me excited for the next 30 years of Warrior Guitars. I hope you enjoy! - Troy

AmeritocracyTM is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

AmeritocracyTM is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

Previous Episode

E38: Toyota IT Executive Jason Ballard on Improving the Employee Experience, AI, and Leadership

This week, host Troy Edgar traveled to Toyota’s North American headquarters to meet with IT Executive and General Manager Jason Ballard to talk about his background and experience at the company.

Troy and Jason started working together in 2014, when Toyota began consolidating their North American sales and manufacturing operations. They discuss the move of Toyota's headquarters to Plano, Texas, the role of technology in the company's operations, and the importance of leadership and continuous improvement.

Troy and Jason also touch on the return to office policies and the impact of remote work on collaboration and creativity. Jason emphasizes the need for authentic leadership, building relationships, and being bold in driving change. He also mentions the use of artificial intelligence and conversational AI in improving employee experiences and productivity.

Lastly, Jason shared his insights that highlight the importance of staying connected, thinking like a CEO, and embracing new technologies in the automotive industry.

Recommended reading: CEO Excellence by Carolyn Dewar, Scott Keller, Vikram Malhotra

AmeritocracyTM is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.

Next Episode

E40: The Youth Center CEO Lina Lumme on Inspiration and Community Impact

This week, host Troy Edgar is joined by the L.A. Times 2023 Inspirational Women nominee, Lina Lumme. Lina is the CEO of The Youth Center, an award-winning non-profit that has transformed the lives of thousands of children through their collaborative social, educational, and recreational programs.

Lina candidly talks about her 2003 journey to immigrate to the United States from Russia, when she arrived 8 months pregnant, homeless, with only $100.00 in her pocket. She shares her touching testimony of being connected at that time of desperation with the Precious Life Shelter, a Southern California-based non-profit that provides residential and supportive services for homeless pregnant women. Through their support and her determination and hard work she forged a path from being homeless to eventually becoming the CEO of the Youth Center, based in Los Alamitos, California.

Lina discusses the mission and programs of the Youth Center, her leadership philosophy, and how mentors play an important role and truly can impact someone's life. She explains that through merit, achievement, and success her organization builds donor confidence which provides the track record and credibility to raise money to maintain and advance the mission.

At the end, Troy asks Lina if she believes that today’s youth are prepared and can still achieve the American Dream. Her answer is informed and insightful and provides an important data point as we all strive to create the conditions for success for our youth.

Please consider participating in the Youth Center's One Grand Project.

AmeritocracyTM is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.