Driven: Unscripted Success

In this episode of the Driven Podcast, Mike Mannino welcomes Dean Bartles, CEO of the Manufacturing Technology Deployment Group (MTDG), a not-for-profit leading efforts in advanced manufacturing and defense innovation.
Dean shares his powerful journey—from making A-10 Warthogs at Fairchild Republic to leading a nonprofit group driving high-tech manufacturing advancements. He dives into what it means to lead with purpose, the reality of “half the pay, twice the effort,” and the real rewards of building organizations that exist to serve others.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this powerful episode of Driven: Unscripted Success, Mike Mannino Sr. and Nareman Hamdan sit down with August Biniaz, co-founder of CPI Capital, to explore the journey from humble beginnings to real estate thought leadership. August shares how his early exposure to real estate through family history and his own grit fueled a career that spans custom home building, large-scale development, and multifamily investments across the U.S.
August opens up about the realities of Canadian vs. U.S. markets, how rent control and investor psychology differ by country, and what drove him to dive deep into private equity and syndications. He emphasizes the importance of self-education, partnerships, and staying agile in a competitive, institutional world. The conversation also touches on current global issues and how politics can directly impact the construction and rental market.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What happens when discipline meets grit and direction? In this episode, Anthony Phillips, Director of Attorney Recruiting at one of the fastest-growing litigation firms in the country, joins Mike Mannino for a raw and honest conversation about the road to professional success—and how it rarely follows a straight line.
From his early days in healthcare to building a career in legal recruiting, Anthony shares how stepping into discomfort, betting on yourself, and staying committed to growth can lead to major breakthroughs. He dives into how martial arts shaped his mindset, what it really means to “focus on focusing,” and why talent alone doesn’t win the fight—grit does.
Whether you're just starting out or looking to level up, Anthony’s story will remind you that it's never too late to build something powerful.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What does it really take to build a global business? Sarah Martin shares the raw, real, and refreshing truth about entrepreneurship — there are no shortcuts. From building a boutique destination events empire to navigating cash flow challenges, Sarah opens up about what it means to grow something meaningful, step by step.
Key Takeaways:
Why in-person events still matter—and how they create powerful bonds
How Epic Events crafts one-of-a-kind luxury experiences with creativity and care
Sarah’s top advice for entrepreneurs: be patient, expect the grind, and skip the victim mindset
The biggest lessons learned from building a business through COVID, cash flow swings, and industry shifts
Real talk about passive income (and why it’s never truly passive)
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

If you've ever had an idea and wondered how to take it from concept to action, Dillon's journey will inspire you. He walks us through the scrappy early days, grant wins, and the real R&D challenges of building something the world hasn’t seen before—recycled pickleballs.
From chasing down cryogenic milling companies to managing international logistics and navigating the manufacturing realities of the U.S. vs. China, Dillon lays it all out.
What you'll learn:
How Dillon turned a college project into a startup with national potential
The environmental impact of pickleballs—and what can be done
How Bounce Back Pickleball is pioneering remanufacturing in this space
The role of consistency, action-taking, and failure in entrepreneurship
What happens when you mix youthful hustle with global vision
-------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Joseph Copley’s journey isn’t your typical real estate success story. After spending much of his career in insurance—covering everything from claims to litigation—Joseph pivoted to real estate investment later in life. From early experiences in mortgages to his deep roots in construction through his father, Joseph opens up about what it took to transition careers, the power of experimentation, and how important it is to learn by doing.
In this candid conversation with Mike Mannino, Joseph talks about lessons from past business missteps, including launching an agency during the pandemic, and how he’s bounced back through perseverance and smart relationships. The duo also dive deep into why the Southeast is exploding with opportunity, how legacy industries like textiles are evolving into advanced manufacturing hubs, and what ROI really means when you invest wisely.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Joe Goldstein joins the show to unpack how he turned career uncertainty into a thriving IT business that now serves ENT practices across the country. From wiping viruses off PCs to becoming a sought-after speaker on AI and cybersecurity, Joe’s story is one of grit, trust, and leadership.
In this powerful episode, Joe shares his journey from working as a CIO for a Fortune 500 healthcare system to launching OCSIT during the 2008 downturn. He dives into the habits that fueled his growth, how AI is reshaping healthcare, and how customer service—not tech—sets his company apart.
Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur, a tech leader, or someone navigating career uncertainty, Joe’s unscripted insights on business, leadership, and legacy will leave you inspired.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

Thomas St. John didn’t start with a fund, a team, or a fancy investor pitch—he started by reading books and buying one single-family home. In this candid conversation, Thomas walks us through his journey from self-managing properties to building a syndication business that prioritizes investor trust above all.
He opens up about lessons learned during the 2008 crash, the risks he took (and wouldn’t recommend), and why being conservative in underwriting has earned him long-term success. You’ll hear about his decision to focus on team growth, market exploration beyond the Midwest, and how being a girl dad drives his entrepreneurial fire.
Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting out, this episode offers relatable insights on risk, mentorship, reading habits, and doing business with integrity.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

In this episode, Jason Cherry shares his unconventional path from aspiring forensic psychologist to leading IT infrastructure in healthcare. From dropping out of college to landing a pivotal internship, Jason’s story is about grit, learning from mistakes, and adapting with purpose.
He talks about the culture shock of moving from urban Chicago to West Columbia, the mission-critical nature of hospital IT systems, and how staying calm during emergencies sets the tone for success. Jason also opens up about embracing AI in healthcare, leading teams with empathy, and why he believes extreme ownership is key to being an effective leader.
Whether you're in tech, leadership, or just navigating your career path, this episode is packed with inspiration, practical wisdom, and a few laughs along the way.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.

What happens when a frustrated pet parent decides there has to be a better way to care for our furry friends? You get Maya Shaposhnik, the passionate founder behind Vetted, a mobile app that's transforming the way we approach pet health.
In this episode, Maya shares how her experience as a French Bulldog mom—feeling rushed at vet visits and left with more questions than answers—inspired her to flip the script. Instead of pet parents feeling powerless and overwhelmed, Vetted puts them in charge using gamification, habit-building, and vet-designed tools like “Dr. Poop” and “Dr. Weight.”
She talks about the highs, the pivots, the crashes (literally), and the grind of startup life—plus the lessons she's learning as she leads her company through a major growth phase in the U.S. market.
 
-------------------------------------------------------- Be a Guest: Are you a successful Naples-area business owner, entrepreneur, or professional with insights to share? Apply to be a guest at Driven: Unscripted Success and share your expertise with a wide audience eager to learn about you.