Michael Kiolbassa is the third-generation CEO of his family-owned sausage company, Kiolbassa Smoked Meats. In this talk, Michael reflects on a vulnerable financial period in the company’s history, detailing how he navigated this critical period by leaning into data and Evergreen® values. By establishing five clear business pillars, the company executed a shift toward margin-driven growth, streamlined its management structure, and optimized its customer base. This transformation allowed the team to take the emotion out of decision-making.

Michael shares how embracing one common truth through data not only stabilized the business but also built deeper trust with customers and secured the company’s future.