Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast

EP.18 - Leading with Purpose: Steven Castino on Growth, Culture, and Community

• Roy Richardson and Sean Murphy • Season 2 • Episode 18

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In this episode of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast, host Roy Richardson and co-host Sean Murphy interview Steven Castino, the Chief Growth Officer at Rehmann. A key figure in the professional services industry, Steven's career spans finance and executive leadership, marked by innovative mergers, acquisitions, and a commitment to a people-first culture. As a former collegiate athlete, Steven emphasizes teamwork and resilience in leadership. He shares insights from his career journey, discussing challenges, lessons learned, and the impact of technology and private equity on the industry. He also highlights his passion for community engagement. Join us as we explore Steven’s inspiring journey and vision for the future of professional services.

Key Takeaways

  • Career Evolution: Steven Castino shares his journey from finance to executive leadership, highlighting the pivotal moments that shaped his career and led him to become the Chief Growth Officer at Rehmann.
  • People-First Culture: At Rehmann, the emphasis on a people-first culture sets the firm apart. Steven discusses how this approach fosters employee retention and creates a positive work environment.
  • Strategic Growth: Steven outlines his vision for growth, focusing on both organic and inorganic strategies. He emphasizes the importance of leveraging technology and adapting to industry changes, particularly with the rise of AI.
  • Community Engagement: Steven's commitment to civic leadership is evident through his involvement with organizations like ACG Global and Dr. Phillips Charities. He believes in giving back to the community and making a positive impact.
  • Lessons in Leadership: Throughout his career, Steven has faced challenges that have taught him valuable lessons about decision-making, resilience, and the importance of maintaining a strong network.
  • Advice for Young Professionals: Steven encourages young professionals to pursue their passions and focus on building meaningful relationships. He believes that success comes from doing what you love and connecting with others genuinely.
  • Future Aspirations: Steven aims to grow personally and professionally while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration at Rehmann.

Don't miss the opportunity to be inspired by Steven's story. Tune in now to hear about his incredible journey.

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Roy Richardson:

Hello, I'm Roy Richardson, and this is the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast. Welcome to this edition of the Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast. I'm your host, roy Richardson, together with my co-host, sean Murphy. The Dynamic Business Leaders Podcast is sponsored by Aurora Infotech, a cybersecurity firm that serves the information security needs of small and medium-sized businesses. Today, our guest is someone who has built a career at the intersection of strategic growth, community leadership and professional service innovation. He's a sought-after advisor, a former collegiate athlete and a civic leader who has chaired organizations like ACG Global and Florida Citrus Sports. As Chief Growth Officer at Remen, he is helping shape the future of professional services through mergers, acquisitions and brand strategy, all while staying deeply connected to his community. Please join us in welcoming Steve Castino. Steve, welcome, it's great to have you with us and we're looking forward to sharing your journey with our audience.

Steven Castino:

Well, thanks, roy, excited to be here today, and just thanks to you and Sean for asking me to be a part of it.

Roy Richardson:

Awesome. Well, folks and listeners, in today's episode we're going to explore Steve's journey from finance to executive leadership, his community impact, lessons learned and his vision for future. Let's start by getting to know you a little better, roy. I have no idea how happy I am to have this guy on the podcast with us.

Sean Murphy:

I have no idea how happy I am to have this guy on the podcast with us. You could tell from the moment I met Steve that he was going places. He was sharp as nails, all about the business, and he's just. We've known each other for around 20. So when we were looking for folks to be a part of our podcast, he's at the top of the list. So, Steve, from my heart man, I'm glad you took the moment to come and join us.

Steven Castino:

And let's share with the world your story, and especially here in Florida. What an intro that is fellas. I'm touched. I'm just honored that you asked me to be on it. We'll see. I told Roy. I hope a couple people, maybe one or two people, will listen. I don't know how interesting my story is but we're going to have some fun. I appreciate it very much. Best intro I've ever had. I promise you that.

Sean Murphy:

There's have some fun and I appreciate it very much. And what best intro I've ever had. I promise you that there's a lot more people.

Roy Richardson:

That's going to hear the story and it's going to appreciate it because, again, you, you have an incredible story, sean. On that note, why don't you take us beyond the boardroom and kick us off?

Sean Murphy:

Well, listen, let's kick off this with something light. What one thing most people don't know about you.

Steven Castino:

That I'm a Minnesotan. I think most people think I'm a Floridian. Yeah, I'm a Minnesotan. I grew up in Minnesota. My whole life Came down to Collins College on a baseball scholarship back in 1998. So a long time ago Met my wife, who, sean you know well, you all met through church, first Presbyterian over there many years ago.

Steven Castino:

And if you know anything about a Florida girls, you're not going to get them to move to Minnesota. So I always joke around and I say Brooke said she'd marry me, but she said I'm not moving to Minnesota. So she didn't really say that but I think she probably would have. But I think I'm considered a Floridian these days but I grew up my whole life through high school in Minnesota and had a great experience up there Still a sports fan, but I've turned into a Floridian for sure.

Sean Murphy:

Well, I know I'm going to correct you on something, because I know Brooke's a native and I married a native as well and I've been in Florida a lot longer than you and the fact that you said you think you're a native. I know you haven't brought that up to Brooke because she would smack you on the back of your neck. That is true, Because Dana does not. I've been there since I was 14, and she's like you are not a native, so don't say it.

Steven Castino:

They take pride in that. True Floridians take pride in that.

Sean Murphy:

I'm here from Minnesota. We know that race to state and for what the state was going to offer. And you picked up golf in a major way. I know that you have this yearning for the state, but you competed in the Florida State Golf Association golf tournaments. What were your favorite courses or most memorable round that you've had?

Steven Castino:

Oh boy, I just played at some of those amateur events and it was really fun. A lot of those courses were really fun. There's a course called Coral Creek down outside Boca Grande. That's one of my favorites. It's hard to beat Calusa Pines down in Naples. There's a course called Coral Creek down outside Boca Grande. That's one of my favorites. It's hard to beat Calusa Pines down in Naples. That's just an awesome course down there. Those are probably my two favorite Florida courses. Seminola course down in Palm Beach is awesome.

Sean Murphy:

I was about to ask you. I'm named two on the West Coast which, so you brought up Seminola. I was going to ask you if you had anything on that.

Steven Castino:

I don't think you can beat those three courses. Those are three phenomenal courses in the state. And you know, home course here in Winter Park is getting redone by Fazio right now, and so I'm a homer that way, so I love that course. It'll reopen in January or maybe December but we're really excited about that. But it's been fun ever since after college. No more baseball and golf was just great for me and I and golf was just great for me and I was fortunate to to, you know, to meet some friends throughout the game of golf as well.

Sean Murphy:

Any memorable moments rounds you know you've had.

Steven Castino:

I've had a few. Yeah, I've gotten great memories. Honestly, it was awesome, but it's probably the more memorable rounds for me are probably who I'm playing with the buddies, the new people you meet, the relationships you meet. I just feel like golf. You can know how they treat the staff, the kind of etiquette they have out there, you know how they react after a bad shot. You know all those types of things that you just need to know more about people and just athletics in general.

Steven Castino:

I'm a huge sports guy. I love sport, I appreciate sports, but I will remember, like you know, people say enjoy this basketball game, enjoy this baseball game, enjoy this football game, because you're not going to be able to play forever. And you think about it when you're doing it and you're like, ah, this, this person my dad probably mainly doesn't know what he's talking about. I'm going to play this game forever and you know he was right, as he usually was in life. So, yeah, and I are still fans of sports, for sure, but that's kind of all I can do as an old body nowadays. So been fun is that?

Sean Murphy:

is that a rollins number seven on the back?

Steven Castino:

uh, yeah, my dad and I actually both played there, and so we we share that, which is really legacy yeah, it's fun, so we both played there very cool yeah, you something there just now about old bodies.

Roy Richardson:

You know the opportunity last year through partners with Threat Locker here, and last year they're a major sponsor here of the Orlando Magic and so they had this camp where you go in the afternoon and get on the floor, and they had some NBA coaches from the Magic. Actually, you know we played a pickup game. Oh wow, yeah, I used to be a very game. Oh wow, yeah, I used to be a very good basketball player man. And you know, look at the floor and you're like I can do this and you start realizing, you know, the age is catching up and it's a lot different. So I hear you Years ago I wouldn't have believed it.

Steven Castino:

It goes fast, Roy. I'm 46 today. But joke, I was like I have to do a specific workout now, so I don't hurt myself, you know? I mean, it's all about my workout. I don't know if you can call it that.

Sean Murphy:

It's more about stretching. Yeah, you're young, 46 though, man. I thought I was thinking more like 40.

Steven Castino:

Okay, yeah, I keep inching up to closer and closer to 50 somehow.

Roy Richardson:

Right, right, but listen, it's not that bad once you went there.

Steven Castino:

It's better than the alternative right.

Sean Murphy:

It most certainly is man. But listen, now that we've done these just a little bit of a warm-up, let's go in and get into your professional journey, which, again, I could be a part of early on in your career. And, like I said, I'm not surprised where you're at the chief growth officer of a fantastic firm. That, over the last 27 years, from finance to leading growth at Raymond, what was the turning point that led you into the executive leadership world that you're in?

Steven Castino:

Well, it's interesting. I'll go through this journey as I can, but it's a fairly interesting story, at least in my world. Out of Rollins, I was an economics major and then I for a year in finance and then went back, got my MBA in finance and was a financial analyst for a couple of years for a local company here in Orlando and around that time I was getting married and I was introduced to a gentleman named Terry Weiler who was the founder of Vestal and Weiler. It was a small CPA firm that had been around in Orlando for years and he said hey, we're looking for someone with a financial background to really grow this firm. He said we're really good at the work, but we need someone to get out there and grow this. Terry and Tim and they were current partners at the time really connected and had some success early on and we got firm together, which was a lot of fun. Terry ended up retiring and we bought him out January 1st 2009. This kind of firm and continued to grow it and a lot of fun with that.

Steven Castino:

November 1st 2022, we merged. A couple of my partners had retired prior to that, but we ended up merging with Raymond. I thought it was the right thing to do in merging was our clients continued to get bigger and bigger. They continued to need more services. They were getting more complicated, they needed international, they needed state and local, they needed R&D credit studies, they needed all these things, and we were having to outsource some of that work and I thought that the best thing to do, the best thing for our clients and the best thing for our staff, was to merge with a larger firm. So I ran a process and met Raymond and realized it was the best firm for us and I've been really proud to be part of Raymond for almost three years now.

Steven Castino:

We had, I think, at the time, 58 employees came over. Two years afterwards, I think 56 of those 58 were still there, which is just a real tribute to Raymond and our team, and you know the client it's. It's been a good marriage, sean. I don't know if I fully answered your question, though, because you asked what, where, where my role has has gone when we merged, I was not sure what that mean for me, but our CEO at time was in the process of actually she she wasn't even a CEO at the time she was in the process of creating an executive team and she asked me, you know, if I'd be part of that or whether I'd like to, you know, do something that seemed intriguing to me. So now I'm part of the executive leadership team at Raymond, which there's five of us on that team, and it's just been. It's been great. I oversee growth firm, both organic and inorganic growth.

Roy Richardson:

Wow, that's an amazing. There you have now, with Raymond you're overseeing over a thousand in Florida, Michigan, Ohio very, very strong reputation. What really separates your firm from other professional service firms?

Steven Castino:

I think if you ask a hundred people in this world what separates them from other professional service firms, I think people you're probably going to get similar answers. People are going to say, well, our culture is better, Our people are better. I don't think that firms have better cultures or better people. I think it's different, right. I think that our culture is perfect for what we're doing and who we're serving. I was running a process of meeting different firms. Every firm that came in there was about seven firms that came in Everyone said we have the best culture.

Steven Castino:

Well, how can every single firm have the best culture? Again, it's just different cultures. So I would tell you, we put people first. That is our mission. We put people first. There's no question about it. And at the end of the day, we do what's right for people and that means our clients, that means our staff and again, I think a great example of that is, you know, two years after the merger, or 56 of the 58 people were still here in Orlando anyway, and our retention rate is charged. I think it's, you know, it's profession. So we've got a good culture. People really enjoy working here. We're not perfect, Real honest, we're not perfect. We need to get better in many areas, but we've got a great culture.

Roy Richardson:

And that's important. The fact that you only lost two people and you were able to retain basically your entire team is a testament of itself, of the culture, which is very, very important and, unfortunately, most people, I would say, sometimes overlook or that, I would say, is widely thrown about. You have the receipts, as they say nowadays.

Roy Richardson:

What you've built. There is a success formula, so kudos to you on that. Let's talk a little bit about your growth plan. You know going forward. You know with emerging AI and the tech industry, and of reshaping. You know with everything out there. What's your growth plan? Where do you see you guys? What would be your biggest challenge moving forward?

Steven Castino:

Yeah, so first off about just kind of geographic growth plan. Like I said, I'm in charge of growth, both organic and inorganic. Geographically, we want to continue to grow in the Midwest and the Southeast. We believe from a cultural point, we fit in that's kind of fit in really well in those areas and from a growth perspective where we see the country continuing to grow and, most importantly, where people are continuing to live and move into those areas. The Midwest and the Southeast is where we fit in.

Steven Castino:

For today anyway, when you bring in how we're going to grow, we're trying to become more efficient. One of the things we're trying to get better at right now as a firm is leverage. We feel like you don't want a partner plugging in tax return, you want a partner reviewing your tax return, right? That's just an extreme example of what we're trying to do is leverage work down to the appropriate level. It'll help with costs for the clients, it helps with growth, it helps with profitability, it helps with recruiting, because if you have the younger staff work themselves, they're going to move up the rankings faster. So those are a couple of things that we're focused on right now.

Roy Richardson:

Nice.

Sean Murphy:

I have no doubt that you're going to continue to grow. I was different, everybody's AI and stuff like that, but talk about the emerging trends that you see. That's going to reshape the future of the industry.

Steven Castino:

We play in the professional service world. We've got a full-service CPA firm. We've got a full-service wealth management arm. We've got a full-service technology arm it's a managed service provider and then we've got a full-service investigative arm. So those are our four business units.

Steven Castino:

I will tell you what is completely reshaping our industry today. Those industries today is private equity. Private equity has come in and they are investing in the professional service world accounting firm, specific MSPs, wealth management arms, rias, and so that has. There was a stat that I read and I want to say 20 of the top 40 firms or maybe it's 20 of the top 50 firms are private equity owned today in this world. But that only started Sean and Roy, probably four years ago. So it has happened really, really fast and it has not slowed down ever since Now. Obviously it will have to slow down at some point.

Steven Castino:

I think my opinion is it's great for the industry. It is not Raymond's plan. Actually, we just came from a board meeting last week. We want to continue to grow the way we're growing. We want to grow organically and inorganically, but with like-minded people, with people that want to grow, the people that want to help be in charge of our own destinies. I think private equity is good for the industry and the reason being is making all of us better. They're continuing to spend more money on technology. They're continuing to find efficiencies, a faster way to do a tax return.

Steven Castino:

Ai is a huge player in this, whether it be audit or tax, the whole world is being turned upside down on that AI, I mean. Here's an example X amount of years back we had an intern from UCF or Florida or Florida State, and they were doing data entry for the tax return. They'd put the pay ones in and all this. Well, now you can scan that document and it goes right into the right box it's supposed to be at, so it's. It is already now. It's expensive. We're spending a lot of money on this software, but it's already showing that it's. It's saving time. You know, whether you do audit or a tax return or whatever it might be, you're doing some kind of Monte Carlo projection for the management arm. It's amazing what it has done, and just my call it 20 years in the space it really has. I think the next five years is just going to be even more of a change, because of equity, because of technology, because of AI, which again I see change and opportunity. I don't see it as a threat at all.

Sean Murphy:

So a couple of things, steve. Private equity are they going Grant Thornton level, deloitte levels, or are they staying downstream, gobbling up like a Carl Riggs and firms like that?

Steven Castino:

So they have not invested in a big four firm yet. So not the big four yet. But everything behind that, yes, Everything.

Roy Richardson:

Really.

Steven Castino:

Yeah. So again of the 20 of the top 50 firms in the country have taken private equity. So in our top 100, it's firms, it's $3 million firms. It runs and I get it. So what private equity is is the industry has a lot of money over the X amount of years. Well, with a tougher economy, it's tough to deploy that capital. But what they see in the CPA world is they see recurring revenue. Right, right, that's right.

Steven Castino:

Bad economy. Companies need their audited financial statements. Good economy or bad economy, you need your tax return filed. So they see that and they see a lot of inefficiencies in our industry. We need to get better, we need to get more efficient and they're seeing again AI right now, let's say it, you know, make up a 300 man hours to do that audit. Well, they think five years it's going to be 50 man hours to do that same audit. So because of technology and, you know, staffing's it's difficult to find people. But you know, I was graduating from school. Now I think an accounting degree is a great place to be. It's just a great foundation to have.

Sean Murphy:

Right, right. So I'm sure you're getting those calls from those private equity firms pretending that they're calling you about ACG.

Steven Castino:

So it's so funny, sean, as you know, like when I started out, you know, in my role many years ago I'm trying to remember I was 2006. I think I started at Vestal and Weiler I would start, you know private equity really knew what private equity was.

Steven Castino:

You know it wasn't, we would do everything, or I would do everything I can to get in front of these folks. And because, again, they're buying and selling companies, well, they're going to need audited and taxed for their portfolio companies. Well, now you're right, because of that, it has changed. And then they actually are calling on us, which is really nice, and you know we, they actually are calling on us, which is really nice, and we've established some good relationships. But private equity is not our future anytime soon or at all. Honestly, we really like what we're doing. We think we can get better what they're doing. They're investing in technology, they're investing in their people, they're investing in efficiencies, and we feel like we can do all those same things without private equity.

Sean Murphy:

Right, well, I'm sure that you know the landscape, you know how to business. I was surprised when I ran into managing partner for Carl Riggs and she was like oh yeah we, we were private.

Steven Castino:

Wow, okay, very cool, four years in the industry.

Sean Murphy:

Right, right, right. Well, let's go beyond the boardroom and the executive suite and let's let's talk about how your leadership extends in in in the community. You know whether the Florida Sports Foundation, not the Florida Sports Foundation. That's where. That's what I was on the board of when you and I went to the governor's baseball event over in St Pete.

Roy Richardson:

I got a picture. I saw a picture of that. By the way, Who'd you meet there?

Steven Castino:

Bill Murray remember.

Sean Murphy:

That's right, bill.

Steven Castino:

Murray. He grew up with my family so he went to Nutrier High School up in Chicago. Yeah, I think he hated my Aunt Kathy for a little while and he knew my dad through some baseball. So he was just. I'd never forget he was. He saw my name tag and he was so kind and I mean he is genuine in person as he is on TV. So, anyway, that was a highlight for me, sean, that was all because of you, so that was. That was a highlight for me, sean.

Sean Murphy:

That was all because of you, so that was awesome, wasn't it? That was really cool. Did you get any pictures from that?

Steven Castino:

I don't think I ever did. That's a good question. I don't know. I'm not sure I ever did. You know that trip was for you.

Sean Murphy:

Wow, you were a lot more important than me. That was for all of the work that you had done at ACG, right? Well, again we killed it at ACG and I'm like, man, how do I? You know, I get governor's office and I'm like, well, steve's a big baseball guy, let me, let me invite him and, sure enough, and then you get to meet, you know, bill Murray and man, that brings back some great memories.

Sean Murphy:

But let's talk about you know, again, your chairmanship at the, the Florida Citrus Sports, which I'm a big fan of. Obviously, acg Global, again, I thought that I'd be on that board and have you on it. Couldn it couldn't have been when I saw that announcement, heard that announcement, like I said, that was like a birthday gift to see you on that and then to know that you were going to that you ran Orlando. You know what drives your passion for both civic and and I was talking to Roy earlier you sat on the board with my wife at the church the HR boards. Clearly you're giving back, not just on the business side, but you're giving back on the civic side. What drives that passion for both civic and professional leadership like that, steve?

Steven Castino:

Well, it's nice of you to ask, Sean. I mean, it's people, honestly, that set the path and you know Roy and I were talking. Wait, wait wait, I'm not that old man.

Steven Castino:

Well, I mean but you were the founder of ACG in Orlando and you know no-transcript Great organization. At one point they really put on a bowl game or a couple of bowl games in Orlando at the Citrus Bowl, but they have just evolved. Last year they had over a million people come into that, into that 20 eventsve. Hogan, who's our ceo, has just done an amazing job and they're and now they're doing a dollar renovation of the stadium and the area around it. That from tdt dollars and it's just. It's just a staple for orlando, a staple for community, for our community, and it just makes us better and better. So that's been really fun.

Steven Castino:

Acg kind of a similar thing. It's really focused again M&A scene globally and probably every private equity group in the country, I think, is involved at least or a member. There's over 15,000 members and honestly, for me to be the chair of that board, of the global board, I was just really fortunate. I would call it right place, right time. I was very, very fortunate and had a ton of fun, met a bunch of great people. It's both those organizations a huge place in my heart, for sure. And again, you meet people. I got more than I gave. I tried to give everything I have, but you just learn so much and meet such wonderful people in this world.

Sean Murphy:

So last thing I want to ask him just the piggyback off it. I have an idea of how it influenced, but tell me, how did those roles help you at Raymond? Like it's helped you, because clearly you're in a C-suite of a fast-growing accounting national accounting firm and those roles are not small roles. You just drove up 15,000 members and I'll talk about inner growth, where there's what you know a couple of 5,000 people hanging out and you've been a leader of that.

Sean Murphy:

So, and these are high intellect individuals that anyway, talk about that for us.

Steven Castino:

Well, again, I would tell you I'm fortunate to be in those, have been in those roles. I would say, how does it help me at Raymond? One is are just the connections and networking. For sure, some of the people that I've met, I've been so fortunate my role at Raymond I do a lot of public speaking, as you can imagine, so those roles were great.

Steven Castino:

Just in preparation, right, you put yourself in different experiences where you're speaking next to, you know, the coaches or the presidents of these schools, in front of hundreds of people, speaking in front of over 4,000 people at ACG.

Steven Castino:

Right, your nerves get going and bringing it back to, like my sports days. It's like getting ready to play a game and it's just fun, right, it's, it's, it's, it's an it it, those juices flowing a little bit again, like you're getting ready to bat or you're, you know, taking a free, whatever it might be. And so I just think you know I would. I think it's good to put yourself in uncomfortable situations and to see what you're made out of and just continue to get better and better and just to challenge yourself. It's, you know, life would be boring if it was easy, but it's a challenge and you need to work hard and get the most out of our abilities. It's kind of what I, what I try to, what I try to preach and what I try to follow myself. But again, there's a lot of areas I need to get better at too.

Roy Richardson:

Amazing that you know, with everything going on, that you you find the passion and I would say the love to to give back to communities, and so one of the things that I also wanted to touch on real quick here, going back to that, is that you're also a board member of the Dr Phillips Charities, which really supports minority empowerment. Can you share a story, an initiative that's especially meaningful to you with that organization?

Steven Castino:

Well, I'm glad you asked that. It's an organization that I have a huge heart for and Ken Robinson. Similar to Steve Hogan, we've got an amazing leader in Ken Robinson who's been there for many years, and you've got some amazing leaders behind him as well. The Dr Phillips story is amazing. We don't have time to share that, but it's just amazing what he did and what the family did. They've enabled us as a foundation Dr Phillips Charities to deploy somewhere between $12 and $13 million per year into the Central Florida communities Dr Phillips' name. All over town I saw something I think it was yesterday. They opened a nursing school for UCF. Dr Phillips was a big donor of, obviously, the Performing Arts Center.

Steven Castino:

I mean the Performing Arts Center is an amazing facility for the size city that Orlando is. We are so fortunate to have that. That wouldn't have happened had it not been for Dr Phillips Charities. You see the Dr Phillips name all over town in art education. We just have a passion for different things and it's really cool. It's not just donations that we make. There are micro grants that we make, different organizations, different nonprofits, and that one, honestly, is a blessing to be a part of, because when you get to pick and choose where those dollars are going every year, we as a board take very, very seriously and you just want to support really good people. Lyft Orlando, if either of you are familiar with Lift.

Steven Castino:

Orlando Dr Phillips Charity has been a huge, a huge supporter of that Tom Sinema was really that. Harold Mills was involved with some just great people and you know. So it's been. Anyway, it's been a space to be a part of Dr Phillips. I look forward to continuing that. That's been a lot of fun.

Roy Richardson:

Well, that's awesome and you know, thank you, thank you for all you're doing there. I mean going and traveling to other cities, seeing the state-of-the-art performance arts have downtown here. But not only that, but you know the Dr Phillips name and it's, with so many different things around here, truly blessed, but even more so blessed that people are involved with that and staring at it in the right direction.

Steven Castino:

So thank you, sir, thank you, we're trying, we're trying, it's been a lot of fun. Like I said, it's got great leaders. That's why all those organizations, you'll see one theme great leaders. I always be involved and team up with great leaders. It makes the board, as you both know, it makes your board a lot easier.

Roy Richardson:

That's right. Well, perfect, segue here because I want to shift gear.

Sean Murphy:

Sean. Let's talk about some of the challenges Steve has faced and the lessons he's learned. So take it away. Yeah, no, I, when I saw this question I chuckled because you know I spent eight years at Deloitte and my role working directly with them senior partners and so I understand not intimately, but I saw a lot of the challenge. So, steve, you mentioned, you know, issues with partners is a challenge, a challenging moment for you. So what helped you push through those times?

Steven Castino:

I think at any professional service firm there are challenges at times, whether you're with a firm of three partners or 3000 partners. Right, you've got a lot of people that are really smart, a lot of type A people that want it their way, and there's not always a right or wrong answer in many of these situations. You asked you know one of the biggest challenges in my career? No question, I mean, we're making decisions now as an executive leadership team. At Raymond, for example, 1,100 employees. Every decision that we make, someone's going to be unhappy. There's just, it's inevitable Someone's going to be unhappy Again, whether it's three partners or 3,000 part. You can't keep everyone happy.

Steven Castino:

So there have been times where, man, it's just you put up your hands, whether it was 10 years ago or 20 years ago or today. Man, this is a grind. Should I keep doing it? And I come back to life's not easy. There's no job out there that you're going to put your feet up and kick back and just collect a paycheck. I don't believe that. If you want to continue to get better and continue to excel at whatever it might be, life's full of challenges. In my mind, my parents didn't raise me to be a quitter, right? Like I said earlier, I want to get the most out of my God-given ability, and sometimes that means you've got to roll up your sleeves, you've got to do what you think is best for the firm and best for the people and at the end of the day you got to say hey, I know so and so doesn't agree with me, but I'm doing the best I possibly can. At 46 years old, I'm a little better.

Steven Castino:

Hopefully I'm a little better at that today, I think your skin gets a little bit thicker, but it's, you know. I mean, you don't? It's not fun to disagree with people, right? It's not fun to not make people happy. But in leadership positions and the CEO is wonderful at this she keeps saying Steve, we're leaders, we make decisions on what's right for the firm and that's what we do, and you can't look back after that.

Roy Richardson:

All right, nice. So I want to touch on two books that you've read here, and one of them being Crucial Conversations, that really touches on the topic of psychological safety. Of course, there's Never Eat Alone, which really, you know, touches the concept of giving and leading through relationships. You know what's one lesson from those books that you apply regularly?

Steven Castino:

So Crucial Conversations, I mean. What I would take out of that is, if there's something looming in your mind, kick the can down the road, that one, that that that sticks out, and and on, never eat alone completely different book, obviously. Someone gave this book when I was younger and it was basically like look, everybody throughout the day needs to eat. You either sit at your desk and eat alone or you could, you know, break bread with somebody and try to do your best to learn something from that person, connect with that person, whether it be business related or not, that person might be struggling with. Maybe you can be a sounding to that person, or or, on the business front, you know, listen, learn. They can educate you on a topic that you're not familiar with you.

Steven Castino:

But really what you're doing is you're developing a relationship, and, and that on a topic that you're not familiar with. But really what you're doing is you're developing a relationship, and that's so much of what life's all about is giving back, trying to be a good friend, whether it's a husband or a friend, and you know we're, like I said earlier, life's difficult. We all have our challenges and we all need a friend every once in a while. That's true.

Roy Richardson:

So great advice there, I mean, and great reflection, I should say. You know, in today's day and age, I think, where everybody's so caught up in their what do you say? Their small little digital world, nobody tends to reach out anymore and look to, as you said, break bread and get to know someone else and build a relationship, and sometimes it's that small relationship, that meaningless relationship that you establish that pays huge dividends down the road. But you know, and I think and you know, one of the things today as well are expecting more instant relationships. Take time. It's trust, it's, you know, you plant the seed that has to grow.

Steven Castino:

Well said, Roy. With my kids right, I have a sophomore, two daughters. Those are some of the values that we try to preach. Sometimes it's just experience. You know, we can say whatever we want, but they need to learn on their own, and that was well said by you.

Roy Richardson:

Well, you know, I often tell my kids and others there's no. You know, here's the perfect manual to parenting. Speaking about the younger generation and kids, et cetera, what advice would you give to college students or young professionals entering the business world today?

Steven Castino:

Well, that's a great question. And, again, my kids aren't far off from that age. What I would tell them, and what I tell my kids, is find something in life you're passionate in. We spend so much time all three of us and everyone else you spend so much time at your job. I am so fortunate where I enjoy my job right, I enjoy what I do. Are there days that I don't have fun Absolutely, but I really do enjoy it. And do I enjoy the debits and credits of accounting? No, that's not it, it's the people. I enjoy the people. So I tell my kids that I would tell anyone graduating from college right now try to find something you're passionate about.

Steven Castino:

Don't worry so much about the money. You can make money in so many different industries. I remember one of our clients started as a garbage man and built this company, this billion dollar company. He's still, to this day, one of the most humble people in the world, people in the world, and he would tell you he's. He's a garbage man. That's what he does, and and it's just. But he had a passion for the trash trash industry.

Steven Castino:

You can find passions in so many different things. I think it's just. I think it's so exciting. I would love to start all over. I'd love I'm so fortunate for where I am but, like you know, starting all over. We're so blessed with this life, man, because life is too short. So enjoy what you do. I don't care if it's if you enjoy, or maybe you want to be some kind of an attorney numbers, you know finance, accounting, whatever it might be, but just you know, find something that you find, a class that you enjoy. Do some read that class way. What if I and you know you could probably type it in the chat GBT, if I enjoy what are good, you know professions, or what are some professions that I? You know that I could probably find some professions that you never even heard of before.

Roy Richardson:

That's right, that's right.

Steven Castino:

Yeah, and.

Roy Richardson:

I good, good point there and I would say that you know we we tend to stick at what I call surface knowledge. We'll get the first, the first layer, and that's what that's where we go. My advice that I often give people, and especially kids nowadays as well and great advice, by the way, steve is, you know, be passionate about what you do and create your opportunities, wait for opportunities to come to you, create your opportunities out there and kick doors open, and, sean, I know you're a big proponent of that.

Sean Murphy:

Listen. These last few minutes is what this podcast to me is all about. I have been saying that for 20 something years about enjoying where which Wayne started collecting trash in Minnesota not Minnesota, but Michigan, you know, 40 years ago. And built a billion dollar business. You know, 20 something years ago, before I was able to buy. You know the Dolphin and everything else.

Sean Murphy:

Blockbuster and AutoNation, because he enjoyed, kind of like, what your client, he enjoyed what he did. And so, man, I love the idea of more and more people just enjoying what they, what God has given to them or whatever they believe has given to them, their assignment in life. And I post that a lot. I I'm, I'm so grateful for my assignment, and it ain't easy, like you say. It ain't easy, bro, not at all. But look, you've said some of these things multiple times on the cast that we've had so far. But I want to touch on it again and just make sure that we have wealth of knowledge. Man, and I, just you know you've cultivated this reputation of growth right. You've built things. I'd be ACG if it wasn't for you, and I tell everybody that, and so the organization is still the same. It was 20 years ago, we blew that thing up and you were at the top of that sphere. Does it mean to you, and how do you instill it across your teams, about cultivating a spirit of growth culturally?

Steven Castino:

So, yeah, we've got it's a great question. So we've got 1100 employees, a lot, of, a lot of, if you look at our industries that we're in more introverted than extroverted. Okay, so you talk about growth and when you're speaking to people about growth and in different ways, there it's hard. Everyone is comfortable picking up the phone and saying hey, sean, would you go to lunch with me today? Hey, roy, would you, would you go have a beer? Would you go have breakfast? You know that talked about business.

Steven Castino:

So what I tell people first of all, one way to grow a firm. There's not one way to grow a practice. Many people are very successful in many different ways. How I have had success in the past is through relationships. It's through people like you, sean, it's. It's it is developing relationships and putting them for the right reasons. Not doing meeting people because you want to. You're asking them for business. You're you're developing relationships because you truly care about that person, you absolutely want to learn that person's doing and you meet with people that you care about and that you want to help and it just naturally happens.

Steven Castino:

I believe the best way to develop relationships is what I say the rifle versus the shotgun approach. Both approaches are important. Don't get me wrong. You need the branding out there. You need people to know who Raymond is. That's really important. But what people are going to quote unquote buy from are the individuals and the relationships and the people that they trust. You don't have to be this slick salesperson to develop business. Honestly, I would rather buy from that person that is more introverted and is more you know, just someone that you can truly, truly trust and you know that they're going to do a good job and I feel like that's what we, that's what we talk about, that's what we preach.

Steven Castino:

There's no question in the service world there are some people that rainmaking or bringing in clients it comes more naturally to than others, and that's okay. We all have our strengths and weaknesses, but we can all get better in different areas. By the way, I will tell you another book that I love Strengths Finder. I'm going to another book that I love strengths finder. I'm a huge believer in playing to your strengths. If you play to your strengths and you enjoy what you do, you're going to do such a better job at it. There's only so you know there's you don't want. I always say, I always joke around. You don't want me doing your tax return. That would not be my highest and best time, but there are certain people that are really really good at that. You know, my gifts or my abilities are different. And there's again there's not better or worse, it's just different.

Roy Richardson:

I think great point and great advice on the books. There's a set. You know, the most successful business leaders out there, most successful people in general, surround themselves by people who are smarter than they are.

Sean Murphy:

I know that one Steve was working with. He was working with me and I'm like I was, I was the leader and I'm like hey to the to the baseball game.

Steven Castino:

Yeah, you think about that. You are our presidents over the years. You think about CEOs over the years. The CEOs, the presidents those are the ones that get all the credit, but the ones that are really good, they surround themselves with the cabinet. That is really really a great foundation. So, Roy, that's very well spoken. I agree completely with that.

Roy Richardson:

And speaking of cabinets, you've kind of led me here into my next question very nicely, and the question is you know if you could create a dream board of it from any era, right, you know who would be on it and what would you hope to learn from them?

Steven Castino:

That's a tough one. I'd have so many questions about that. What industry? And all that? But a couple are Ronald Reagan. I just think he was a great leader. Right, I'm not going to think of the industry that worked here, but Ronald Reagan was no doubt an amazing leader. I think that he had the people skills. Books I've read about him were just spectacular. Bonhoeffer if you haven't heard of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, his story is unbelievable. He was a pastor during World War II. The things that he went through and the bravery that he had just unbelievable. Maybe my favorite book of all time. Many times I remind myself when I have a hard day, when I'm tired or whatever it might be. Think of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and all that he went through and ultimately had to give his life or his life was taken. You know powerful he's standing up against Hitler.

Sean Murphy:

He was Okay, got it. Yeah, yeah, that goes into that.

Roy Richardson:

And I really.

Steven Castino:

You know, I'll give you the book if you want. I'm happy to. Just Eric Matexis. He's a great writer. Phenomenal story. I read Eric's book on.

Sean Murphy:

Wilberforce abolishing slavery in England. That's a great book that he wrote.

Steven Castino:

Yeah for sure, I mean. And then a couple. Steve Jobs is just an idea guy, Obviously, Warren Buffett has been just amazingly successful. I think I've read every Warren Buffett book, you know, and what an investor he is and still is, which is just unbelievable. I think I've read every Warren Buffett book, you know, and what an investor he is and it still is, which is just unbelievable. I pride myself on being an idea guy, a visionary, but obviously I don't hold a candle to Steve Jobs, but I love, you know, just, the passion and the ideas, the, uh, the creativity that someone like he had is just unbelievable.

Steven Castino:

And still, after gone, see what Apple has done. And he truly set a company up bigger than him. Right, he laid the foundation and we always say that we don't want, we want to create an institution. Right, We'll do 250 million in revenue this year. We're trying to be bigger than any one of us. We are trying to create an institution and grow the right way. We want to grow up with good clients. We want to grow with good people and you know, those are a few of the people that I would love to, would have loved and learn from, and boy, what a directors that would be. Huh.

Roy Richardson:

I was about to say you'd certainly be the envy, with Warren, buff, buffett and and steve jobs on their end of themselves. I would say that, uh, you, you'd probably be to triple that 250 million.

Steven Castino:

Uh, figure there yeah, that'd be pretty cool and then I I'd love them and they're sports guys, so then they're. Then then there's I to me that would love for jack nicholas, huge fan of his. Michael jordan huge fan, you know, like certain people like that when I watch them compete, there was just nothing like that. And boy, I have a lot of respect for those people.

Roy Richardson:

Yeah, no, no, well said, great board. Well rounded off. With Jack and Nicholas and Michael Sean, I think we'll be pressed hard to find a board to compete against, somebody else will do it. Right. So, Steve, I got to ask you here. We're nearing the top here, but you know, if you go back in life and change one thing, what would it be and why it's a?

Steven Castino:

question. I don't think I would change anything and this is why, boy, there were some challenges I've had throughout life. Right, everyone has challenges. I've been very fortunate and had a very fortunate life, but you know, there are certain days you're just like man I'm frustrated.

Steven Castino:

Whatever it might be, whether it be personally or professionally, I do believe, and I think back to some of my earlier years in my career and some of those challenges, that they made me stronger and they made me who I am today. So I wouldn't change anything, even though I've had tons of failures and I've made tons of mistakes. I don't think I've changed any of them, because that's who, what made me of who I am today. And, honestly, I love telling those mistakes and those failures that I had to my kids and to show that you don't have to be perfect in this life, I always say there's a couple rules that we have in our first, you got to treat everyone with respect, have fun and do your best. Life's not that hard if you do those things. And and I don't think you can do those things fully If, uh, if I didn't have some of those failures and if I didn't have some of those things that I I really struggled with.

Roy Richardson:

Well, you know, there's two the saying that adversity builds character, right.

Sean Murphy:

Yes, sir.

Roy Richardson:

So well said there, Steve. You know this has been great. Before we start going down the rounding off path here, I'm sure our listeners out there would love to connect with you, more about you and learn more about Raymond. How best would they go about that?

Steven Castino:

Well, I'd love to hear from anybody. Linkedin is probably the best. I need to be better on LinkedIn, but LinkedIn and, you know, just social media in general is the future. But, yeah, definitely LinkedIn. Love to connect with anybody and help. I'd love to love to talk to them in any way. And again, because of people like Sean. You know we love giving back right, you love helping people.

Steven Castino:

I was at a quick party last night for my neighbor and he had his kids there and some other friends had their kids there and they're now graduating from college and they're looking for their job. It's a hard job market right now. So the networking and just the friendships that were happening from there hey, here's my number. Give me a call. I'd love to help, whether we have a job for them or maybe someone I know has a job for me those types of things. That's what life's all about. Right, it is, we're here to make this world a better place, and I think it's Ralph Waldo Emerson right To leave this world a little better than we got here. Again, I'm not saying I'm successful in doing that, but that's my goal every day.

Roy Richardson:

Awesome, awesome. Well, thank you for this amazing time, absolutely, and sharing your amazing story and for being who you are and all that you do. You know I've heard a lot about you from Sean and when we were putting together our list of who we'd love to have on the podcast, you know Sean was up there with your flag, you know, big and proud, and he explained to me why I'm honored today to say that I've had the opportunity to spend time with you and that I got to meet you through Sean and learn more about you.

Roy Richardson:

So thank you.

Steven Castino:

Well, thank you both. I appreciate it very much, loved the time that we spent together. You're doing a great job, and what a time it was for me.

Sean Murphy:

I enjoyed the hour was for me, I was for the hour. Well, steve, um, it's been phenomenal. I thought it was gonna. I knew it was gonna be. I ain't no thinking about it. I knew it was gonna be phenomenal. You have an incredible story, an incredible human being. Please pass on my hellos to brooke and the kids, especially the baby girl who I I like I said there was about four years where she was in my class, dan and i's class, and, um, please pass along a hello to your in-laws. His father-in-law is a Lambda Chi from Florida State as well.

Roy Richardson:

We won't hold the Florida State against him as Miami guys, but we'll welcome him as a Lambda Chi.

Steven Castino:

You know, Sean, it's interesting you say that you reminded me that you and Dana taught our now-older-old Right. As you imagine, we have good days and we have bad days with our 18-year-olds I think I don't know 18-year-old girls. They kind of know everything, right, you just ask them and they know everything. So I might have to reintroduce you here one of these days and ask you to take her to lunch for me, and you know anyway.

Steven Castino:

No, I'm just joking, but she's a. I'm fortunate with great kids. Love them to death. Yeah, I mean, you know, raising kids is different today than I think it was when, when, when our parents raised us. Um question about it.

Sean Murphy:

Very good, Well, well, it was a phenomenal time, Steve. Again, man, we appreciate it. We will have you back in the future and keep doing the phenomenal work you're doing and, uh, see you on the, you know, sometime soon.

Steven Castino:

Thank you, thank you both Really appreciate it.

Roy Richardson:

Thank you and to our audience, thank you for tuning into this edition of the dynamic business leaders podcast. If you enjoyed today's episode, be sure to subscribe, leave a review and share it with someone who would benefit from. Steve story and Sean.

Sean Murphy:

I'll leave until next time. Yeah, and until next time. Stay curious, stay driven and keep leading with purpose man. That purpose thing for me I love. I've been purpose driven for a long time and Steve, you remember we did churchwide life.

Roy Richardson:

Absolutely.

Sean Murphy:

Phenomenal study. We did so anyway. With that, we'll sign off here.

Roy Richardson:

Appreciate you all. Hi, I'm Roy Richardson, host of the Dynamic Business Leaders podcast. Are you a business owner or a leader of a successful business? If yes, we'd love to have you as a guest on our program. Our goal is simple we provide a platform for leaders to share their experiences to benefit others. We want to hear your story how you got started, the challenges you faced along the way and your passion today. If this sounds like you or you know someone who fits these criteria, then be sure to get in touch with us by visiting our website, linked in the episode description below. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel and click the notification bell to be notified when our next episode goes live. Or, if you'd rather listen to us during your car rides, you can also follow us on your favorite audio channel using your podcatcher. Thanks again, and remember keep crushing it. Thank you.