The Mentor Who Made Me: A Legacy of Leadership with Bill Kasko

What if the most defining influence in your life came from someone you worked with as a teenager, and their impact continues to guide you decades later?

In this episode, Kevin Thompson talks with Bill Kasko about the man who unknowingly shaped his future: Ronnie Horton. From stocking shelves and bagging groceries to building a national staffing agency, Bill traces his entrepreneurial path back to a mentor who modeled integrity, leadership, and service. This conversation isn’t just about career paths—it’s about the deep, unseen ripple effects of influence and the importance of honoring those who showed us the way. Bill shares how his company now gives back through a scholarship in Ronnie’s name, and what it means to live a life grounded in values, gratitude, and quiet impact.

[00:01 - 07:30] Built on Relationships

• Why building personal relationships became the foundation of his business
• How one moment at the dinner table confirmed his mission
• The significance of placing people one at a time, not just filling roles

[07:31 - 14:15] A Foundation of Work Ethic

• How early jobs taught long-term leadership lessons
• Why privilege didn’t exempt him from hard work
• The significance of having structure and accountability from a young age

[14:16 - 21:30] The Mentor Who Changed It All

• Why a scholarship from a grocery chain became a life-changing opportunity
• How mentorship filled the gap left by family struggles
• What it means to listen more than you speak and lead by example

[21:31 - 28:35] Carrying the Legacy Forward

• Why it mattered to involve the Horton family in the legacy
• The significance of doing good without needing credit
• What happens when impact outlives the influencer

[28:36 - 35:58] Real Influence, Real Results

• How giving feedback—even when it’s hard—builds lasting respect
• What Bill learned about ego and staying focused on the bigger picture
• The significance of showing up early, staying late, and leading by presence

Connect with Bill: 

Website: https://www.frontlinesourcegroup.com  

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/billkasko  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563315765616

Key Quotes:

“You take the skill of what you have—people, mentoring, growing—and figure out what can I parlay that into?” - Bill Kasko

“I'm the man I am today because of the influence of that one individual.” - Bill Kasko

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