In Episode 11 of the Operations Excellence Podcast, Mark O’Donnell sits down with Adam Feck — President of Forward 46 and Co-Founder of the Strategic Executive Alliance — for a powerful conversation about what it really means for a business to be “ready” for growth.

Adam shares his remarkable journey—from orthopedic trauma surgery sales to fire service leadership to building organizations that support scalable revenue growth. Together, Mark and Adam dive into the foundational elements that determine whether a small or mid-sized business is prepared to seize the opportunities emerging in Central New York, particularly with the wave of development surrounding the Micron project.

They explore key questions every leader should be asking, including:

• What does readiness actually look like?
• Is your mindset helping—or holding your organization back?
• How do you know when it’s time to stop doing everything yourself?
• Are your operations and sales processes truly scalable?
• What changes must leaders be willing to make to support real growth?

From leadership mindset to building strong teams, from overcoming analysis paralysis to embracing collaboration and community resources, this episode is packed with insights for business owners, executives, and leaders looking to grow with intention.

Mark and Adam also extend a call to action to local businesses: if you're unsure whether your organization is ready to scale, both guests are offering conversations to help leaders gain clarity and direction — whether directly with them or through their broader networks of trusted local experts.

If you’re a business owner in Central New York asking yourself, “Am I ready?”, this episode is a must-listen.