Miranda Dietz's Career Pivot: From Paramedic to Supply Chain Leader at Rise Brands Columbus

March 8
58 mins

Episode Description

🎙️ From Paramedic to Procurement Director: Miranda Dietz's Journey Through Adversity to Rise Brands

In this inspiring episode, Miranda Dietz, Director of Procurement at Rise Brands, shares her remarkable journey from 10-year paramedic firefighter career to supply chain leadership in hospitality entertainment. Through candid stories about Meniere's disease diagnosis forcing career pivot two months before marriage, refusing victim mentality while navigating autoimmune disease surgeries, white-knuckling through COVID's 85% staff furloughs at BrewDog while pivoting to cans, and building supply chain for pins mechanical's nostalgic arcade empire across three 2025 openings with 50-person lean team, Miranda reveals how growing up opportunity-poor fueled relentless drive—and why protecting gratefulness over victimhood becomes the superpower transforming adversity into achievement.

✨ Key Insights You'll Learn:

  • Small-town origins: left opportunity-scarce Indian Lake at 18, first family member earning college degree

  • Meniere's disease pivot: autoimmune vertigo ended paramedic firefighter career, required multiple surgeries, left deaf in left ear

  • BrewDog COVID survival: furloughed 85% of staff, pivoted production from kegs to cans during aluminum shortage

  • Rise Brands portfolio: pins mechanical duck pin bowling arcades, 16-bit nostalgic games, no soliciting membership bourbon bars

  • Vintage arcade sourcing: games no longer manufactured, team sources from garages and eBay creating unique stories

  • 2025 expansion velocity: three new pins locations built back-to-back with 50-person headquarters and distribution team

  • 2026 strategy shift: slowing down to speed up, maturing existing locations before 2027 aggressive growth

  • AI supply chain integration: contract depositories flagging unfavorable terms, automating source-to-pay procurement lifecycle

  • Victim mentality epidemic: social media comparison culture creates failure fear paralyzing entrepreneurial fast-paced teams

  • Gratefulness as superpower: refusing victimhood, identifying problems and moving forward becomes relentless forward momentum

🌟 Miranda's Key Mentors:

Grandmother and Blue-Collar Father: Taught work ethic despite opportunity-scarce upbringing, father worked tirelessly for family stability BrewDog Leadership Team: Provided startup entrepreneurial education accelerating 15 years of corporate learning into five years Rise Founder Troy Allen: Brilliant visionary running at light speed, creating authentic brand Miranda passionate about serving Gaming Unicorn Team: Decades of arcade expertise sourcing nostalgic games, including pinball champion gaming supervisor Network Built from Youth: Surrounded herself with opportunity-rich speaking parents, continues nurturing community for thought partnership

👉 Don't miss this conversation about gratitude over victimhood, diversifying supply chains through crisis, and why slowing down creates sustainable speed.

🔗 Connect with Miranda Dietz:

Email: miranda@risebrands.com 

Company Website: risebrands.com 

📄 Transcript Available: Miranda Dietz's Career Pivot: From Paramedic to Supply Chain Leader at Rise Brands Columbus

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📄 Special Thanks to Anthony Codispoti & AddBack Benefits Agency: AddBack Benefits Agency - Providing innovative employee benefits solutions that improve employee well-being while optimizing your bottom line Website: addbackbenefits.com

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