What does leadership look like when your path isn't linear — and your industry wasn't built with you in mind?

In this episode of Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Gwen Smothers, a long-tenured leader at Piedmont Service Group, to talk about career pivots, people-centered leadership, and the power of community in the HVAC industry.

Gwen began her career in accounting before transitioning into business systems and leadership roles — a move that required confidence, curiosity, and a willingness to step into discomfort. With more than two decades at the same organization, she shares what has kept her engaged, how the industry has evolved, and what leadership really requires beyond technical expertise.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Navigating leadership without a technical background

• Building confidence when stepping outside your comfort zone

• Long-term career growth inside one organization

• Co-founding and leading the Women in HVAC peer group at Service Logic

• Why visibility, voice, empowerment, and community matter — especially in male-dominated fields

Gwen also reflects on mentorship, culture, and what the HVAC industry must do to attract and retain diverse talent in the years ahead.

This episode is a powerful listen for anyone leading through change — or considering a career path that doesn't fit the traditional mold.

What does it really take to lead boldly in spaces where women are still the exception — not the norm?

In this episode of Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Toni Will, trailblazing leader, keynote speaker, and author, for a candid conversation about leadership, courage, and choosing a life aligned with your values.

As the first female general manager in the history of the ECHL's Kalamazoo Wings, Toni knows what it means to break barriers and lead authentically in male-dominated environments. She shares lessons from her journey in professional sports, the realities of high-visibility leadership, and how redefining success — including choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle — transformed both her career and personal life.

In this conversation, we explore:

• Leading confidently in male-dominated industries

• Navigating pressure, visibility, and imposter syndrome

• What authentic leadership really looks like behind the scenes

• Choosing an alcohol-free lifestyle and challenging cultural norms

• Redefining success on your own terms

Toni also talks about her work as a keynote speaker, her podcast Women In…, and her upcoming book (releasing March 1, 2026), all rooted in one mission: inspiring women to lead with courage, clarity, and authenticity.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone questioning old definitions of success — and ready to write their own.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/tonildaniels/

https://www.toniwill.com/

What does it look like to build a career that blends technical mastery with creative freedom?

In this episode of Wine After Work, Bryce sits down with Nicole Roe, founder of R. Nickson Interiors, to talk about her unconventional path from construction to couture-level interiors — and what it takes to carve your own lane in a male-dominated industry.

With more than 15 years of experience across construction and design, and a degree in Building Construction from Georgia Tech, Nicole brings a rare blend of technical credibility and expressive creativity. She shares how her background allows her to design spaces that aren't just beautiful, but deeply functional and aligned with how her clients actually live.

In this conversation, we cover:

• Transitioning from construction into high-end interior design

• Building confidence and credibility as a woman in male-dominated spaces

• Why understanding the full construction process changes how you design

• Scaling a boutique design firm with operational control (including launching a warehouse and receiving space)

• Designing homes that support real life, not just aesthetics

Nicole also opens up about balancing entrepreneurship with motherhood, creativity with structure, and ambition with authenticity — all while raising four energetic boys and building a design brand that refuses to fit into a single box.

If you're navigating a career pivot, building a business, or redefining success on your own terms, this episode will resonate.

https://rnicksoninteriors.com/

https://www.instagram.com/rnicksoninteriors/