He blends hands-on experience, inspirational stories, and practical strategies that resonate across all levels.
His ability to bridge theory and reality—having navigated shop floors and management offices—makes him ideal for developing teams from entry-level to executives. Mack’s focus on unleashing potential and fostering growth mindsets creates thriving cultures with noticeable gains in performance and morale.
In 1988, Mack began his manufacturing career working long hours (10-16 hour days/nights were common) as an entry-level machine operator doing the hot, dirty work on the shop floor where he operated saws, CNC drills, mills, gear shapers, and lathes — often 7 days per week for months at a time. He started college in 1995, graduating with highest honors in an Executive BBA program, and earned 14 promotions over 20 years.
“When you start at the bottom, there’s plenty of room to climb!
10 years into his career, he transitioned into engineering related roles: CNC programming, CAD drafting, cost estimation and process engineering. Mack says, “When you start at the bottom, there’s plenty of room to climb!” Later in his career, he began specializing in lean manufacturing.
This self-transformation story makes him a relatable speaker; he embodies growth, inspiring others to unlock their potential. For Mack, it’s not theory. He knows how to do it because he has done it.
From 2005 to 2012, Mack logged over 11,000 hours leading cross-functional teams through kaizen, leadership development, and cultural shifts, mastering the simplification of complex ideas into actionable steps. This expertise allows him to connect with diverse audiences, ensuring organization-wide impact as a trainer.
From 2005-2008, as the Lean Manager, he led the Lean Transformation in the plant where he was employed. The results were amazing! At the start, GPM was -3%. 3 years later, GPM was +35%! In 2008, Mack resigned to start his own Lean Manufacturing Consulting business and was booked solid until 2012 when he chose to shift focus. In 2012, Mack co-founded Top Story Leadership with his wife, Ria, offering speaking, training, coaching, and consulting. As of 2025, they’ve published 35 books on personal growth and leadership development, often keynoting together with dynamic, engaging, and humorous sessions.
Highlights include joining John Maxwell in Guatemala (2013) to train 20,000 leaders, speaking with Les Brown in LA (2014), and an invitation to speak at Yale University’s School of Management (2018).
Mack and Ria deliver motivational content worldwide, having spoken in Mexico, Guatemala, Canada, and across the USA, showcasing their global, transformative influence.
In 2016, Mack and Ria launched the unique and popular Blue-Collar Leadership® brand, tailored for front-line workers, leaders, and those who support them.
As of 2025, eight of their 35 books are in the Blue-Collar Leadership® Series including the three most popular written by Mack: Blue-Collar Leadership®: Leading from the Front Lines, Blue-Collar Leadership® & Teamwork: 30 Traits of High Impact Players, and Blue-Collar Leadership® & Supervision: Unleash Your Team’s Potential. However, Blue-Collar Kaizen: Leading Lean & Lean Teams is Mack’s most unique book because he details how he built trust quickly as an outsider in an effort to generate buy-in while leading teams through change.
Mack and Ria inspire people globally through their example of achievement, growth, and personal development. They’ve worked with prestigious clients, including ATD (Association for Talent Development), Auburn University, Chevron, Chick-fil-A, Kimberly Clark, Koch Industries, Southern Company, U.S. Military, and many more. This initiative addresses a critical development gap, building high-performance teams for better retention and innovation.
Mack excels at unleashing your team’s potential by taking the complex and making it simple. Through keynotes or workshops, he develops talent at every level, boosting engagement and productivity. Looking for a speaker/trainer who is blending wisdom and motivation, Mack delivers results—connect with him to spark transformation.
Ready to help your team think at the next level, so they can perform at a higher level? Contact Mack Story today to ignite transformation on site or at your next event!
