Chris Martin is the Vice President of OEM and New Technologies at Thompson Retractor, a company specializing in surgical exposure systems that enable efficient and safe access to anatomy during medical procedures. Under his leadership and with over 15 years at Thompson Retractor, Chris has helped expand the company's reach beyond traditional hospital sales into strategic OEM partnerships with major implant manufacturers, contributing to significant growth and innovation within the industry.

Innovation in healthcare rarely happens in isolation. It's built through collaboration, trust, and a deep understanding of what surgeons truly need in the operating room. So what does it take to turn partnership into real surgical progress?

Drawing from his experience as a leader in surgical product development and collaboration, Chris Martin explains that true innovation comes from aligning expertise. He describes how partnerships allow each side to focus on what they do best, whether that's implants or surgical access, rather than trying to do everything at once. By combining strengths and reducing complexity for surgeons, these collaborations ultimately lead to safer, more efficient procedures and better patient outcomes.

In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Chris Martin, Vice President of OEM and New Technologies at Thompson Retractor, to discuss how strategic partnerships drive surgical innovation. They explore the shift from direct sales to OEM collaboration, the role of stability and exposure in surgical success, and how trust fuels long-term adoption. Chris also talks about staying relevant amid emerging technologies like robotics.

Scott Rolston is the President of Stucchi USA, a leading manufacturer specializing in hydraulic quick disconnect couplings for industries such as construction, agriculture, industrial, and oil and gas. Under Scott's leadership, Stucchi USA has grown from an organic startup to a major player in the fluid power industry, earning recognition for its customer-focused innovation and operational excellence. With over 30 years of experience, Scott combines deep technical knowledge with a passion for building strong relationships across OEMs, distributors, and end users.

In industrial markets, innovation rarely starts in a lab. It takes shape in the field, shaped by pressure, downtime, and real-world constraints. But what happens when companies truly build solutions around those realities instead of just the product?

Drawing from his experience as a seasoned leader in fluid power, Scott Rolston explains that innovation begins by deeply understanding the customer's application, not just the component itself. He emphasizes that what may seem like a simple product often sits at the center of safety, uptime, and productivity challenges once it's exposed to real-world variables like vibration, pressure, and operator behavior. This perspective shifts the focus from selling parts to solving business-critical problems, making innovation more practical, impactful, and aligned with how customers actually operate.

In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Scott Rolston, President of Stucchi USA, to discuss building customer-driven innovation in industrial markets. They explore how to differentiate in commoditized spaces, why safety and productivity are reshaping expectations, and how real-world feedback drives product development. Scott also shares insights on turning strong partnerships into a competitive advantage.

Baran Mutlu is the Director of Sales at AKDO, a global supplier of luxury natural stone, tiles, and surface materials used in residential and commercial design projects. As an industry leader for over 30 years, AKDO has expanded its reach to around 200 showrooms nationwide and grown its presence in both residential and large-scale commercial projects, with a focus on innovation and cutting-edge design. Baran brings an international perspective to the business, shaped by his education at Babson College and a family heritage of entrepreneurship.

Great design doesn't happen in isolation. It's built through a web of trust, timing, and collaboration that often determines whether a vision comes to life or falls short. What really makes those connections last?

According to Baran Mutlu, a relationship-driven sales leader in the design materials space, strong partnerships are the single most important factor in long-term success. He explains that in a competitive industry, it's not just about having the best product, but about nurturing genuine, organic relationships built on trust and consistency. From calling in favors on tight deadlines to securing exclusive materials before they hit the market, those connections create a competitive advantage. Ultimately, it's this mutual support system that turns one-time transactions into lasting collaboration.

In this episode of In Good Company: Where Relationships Drive Results, Lisa Kilrea is joined by Baran Mutlu, Director of Sales at AKDO, to discuss how relationships shape success in architecture and design. He shares how trust influences supplier and designer partnerships, why observation is key early in your career, and how global collaboration requires understanding personal motivators. Baran also talks about balancing service with business growth.