What the home improvement industry gets wrong about leadership
After 20 years building teams in construction and home improvement, I can tell you the industry does not have a hiring problem. It has a leadership problem. Here is what needs to change.
A father’s fight: Why I advocate for gun violence prevention
Khary Penebaker lost his mother Joyce to firearm suicide when he was 20 months old. That loss shaped everything. Now a father of three and Everytown fellow, he fights to keep other families from learning the same grief.
Why I resigned from a $35M company I helped build
I helped grow a roofing company to $35M in revenue with 180 employees, then resigned due to a breakdown in the partnership. Here is what the experience taught me about partnerships, identity, and knowing when to go.
What scaling a $15M construction company taught me about leadership
I grew Penebaker Enterprises from $1.5M to $15M in nine years with 50 employees. These are the leadership lessons I learned the hard way on commercial rooftops, not in a boardroom.
How I stopped letting imposter syndrome run my career
Imposter syndrome ran my decisions for years, from boardrooms to political campaigns. The shift came when I stopped managing the fear and started ignoring its advice.
What I tell people who say gun violence is not their problem
Gun violence isn't someone else's problem. My mother died by gun suicide in a suburb. Here is what I tell people who think it doesn't affect them.
Why the skilled trades shortage is a leadership problem, not a labor problem
The skilled trades shortage isn't a labor problem. It's a leadership problem. The construction industry loses workers because of poor management, no career paths, and disposable culture.
The phone call that changed how I think about fatherhood
A phone call from my daughter changed how I show up as a father. Co-parenting three kids taught me that balance is a myth. Honest presence is what matters.
How to get booked as a keynote speaker when nobody knows your name
You don't need fame to get booked as a keynote speaker. You need a clear topic, proof you can deliver, and a system for getting in front of event planners.
What happened when I stopped pretending to have it all figured out
I spent years performing confidence instead of practicing honesty. When I finally admitted I did not have all the answers, my team stepped up in ways I never expected.
Why the Trades Are the Best Career Path Nobody Talks About
I have watched people spend four years and six figures on a degree they never use while electricians and plumbers half their age were buying houses. The skilled trades are not a fallback. They are a legitimate, high-paying career path that more people should consider.
Inside the Wisconsin Fake Electors Lawsuit: Why I Became the Lead Plaintiff
On December 14, 2020, I walked into the Wisconsin State Capitol to cast my Electoral College vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. It was my second time serving as a presidential elector. The first was in 2016 for Hillary Clinton.