In this episode of Servant Leader’s Library, host Nicholas Paulukow sits down with Reesy Neff, founder and CEO of Omega eCycles. Reesy shares her journey from banking executive to entrepreneur, highlighting how servant leadership shaped her path. Through resilience, authenticity, and a passion for purpose-driven business, she inspires leaders to break free from labels and leave a lasting legacy.
Episode Transcript
Nicholas Paulukow
All right, welcome back to Servant Leader’s Library, the show where we explore what it truly means to lead with heart, humility, and purpose. I’m your host, Nicholas Paulukow, CEO of ONE 2 ONE, a managed IT and security firm. Today’s guest has a story of spirit and service-driven leadership that will absolutely inspire you.
So, Reesy Neff is the founder and CEO of Omega eCycles, where she built a thriving business focused on responsibility, recycling end-of-life IT equipment, and ensuring secure data destruction. But her impact doesn’t stop there, folks. She’s also a published author, motivational speaker, and a woman who knows the power of reinvention.
Her memoir, Stripping Off the Labels, is a powerful reminder that the world doesn’t get to define who you are or what you’re capable of. She’s also been featured in Unstoppable Women magazine and contributed to Becoming an Unstoppable Mompreneur. Whoa, all right.
Reesy’s journey with servant leadership began in her days as a regional banking manager. The same passion and purpose now fuel her work as a CEO, community leader, and changemaker. She married her soulmate and is fiercely proud of her children.
And if you really want to see her light up—we’re going to test this today—just mention her grandkids. Today, we’re diving into what it looks like to lead with conviction, vulnerability, and purpose, in both business and life. And how breaking the labels others place on us can unlock something truly unstoppable.
So, let’s get into it. Welcome, Reesy, to the show. We’re glad you’re here.
Kind of introduce yourself a little more. But what an intro.
We help leadership teams build more resilient IT foundations. Curious what that looks like?
Reesy Neff
Wow, that was amazing. Thank you.
Nicholas Paulukow
Yeah, absolutely. I know—you wrote that? That’s awesome.
I’m so excited.
Reesy Neff
I’m so glad that’s recorded. I’m going to use that myself.
Nicholas Paulukow
All right, perfect.
Reesy Neff
No, I’m excited to be here. I’m excited to talk about servant leadership and how I got here. I have a lot of passion around servant leadership, which you may or may not know just from my resume.
But when you get to know me, you’re like, “Oh, okay. Now I get it.”
Nicholas Paulukow
I love it. I love your passion and your excitement. I’m so curious to get into how you went from banking to where you are today—and the writing!
So let’s kind of begin. Give us the idea of what servant leadership means to you.
Where did that come from? Where does it resonate? Did you find that in your banking days?
Reesy Neff
Well, you know, I love that question. I think it was always there, and banking helped uncover it. I had been a finance manager in the car business, and then I went into banking and found that… I feel like I’m a natural leader. It just is what it is.
You know, when you’re younger, they tell you you’re bossy—but really, it’s leadership skills. You just have to hone them. So when I got into banking, the servant leadership really began to blossom.
When I went to work for what was then Susquehanna Bank, I found a magnificent mentor. I would say he really was the one who inspired me. As an example, one thing he said to me—I love this—he said, “Now, Reesy, who’s the most important person?” Most businesses would say the customer. But he said, “No, it’s the employees. If you are good to your employees, they’ll be good to the customers.”
That was very powerful for me—a pivotal moment. I had many moments like that with him. He also shared one of my favorite leadership books with me, The Way of the Shepherd. Have you heard of it?
Nicholas Paulukow
I know of it—who wrote it again?
Reesy Neff
I stink at remembering authors—except for my own books, I guess!
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s all right. We’ll find out later.
Reesy Neff
But it’s a great book. It sounds religious, but it’s really about taking care of your flock.
All of these lessons just kept taking me down the path. Even before that, my core goal has always been to leave a person or place better for having been there. And really, that’s the essence of servant leadership, right?
Anyway, it’s just a basic part of who I wanted to be.
Nicholas Paulukow
You know what I mean? We hear that a lot—that there’s always someone who inspires us. It’s really intriguing to hear how that person impacted you at such a pivotal part of your career.
That’s pretty amazing.
Reesy Neff
Yes! He still does. I still meet with him.
When he retired, I said, “I’m not done with you.”
Nicholas Paulukow
Wow. So you’ve had a long relationship with this person who inspired you.
Reesy Neff
Oh, absolutely. I still meet with him regularly because I just admire him. He’s so kind. The light he emanates—he’s just a great person.
If I had to describe the kind of leader I want to be, it would be him.
Nicholas Paulukow
Oh, that’s neat. So he’s a builder of other leaders.
Reesy Neff
He really, really is. And I can’t wait to tell him I got to talk about him today!
Nicholas Paulukow
Oh, that’s awesome.
Reesy Neff
He’s always like, “Oh, Reesy,” and I’m like, “I’m telling you!”
Nicholas Paulukow
And he’s from Lancaster too?
Reesy Neff
Yes, he is.
Nicholas Paulukow
Wow, that’s awesome. Where did his career go after Susquehanna? Did you two stay in touch professionally?
Reesy Neff
No, he went to another bank. He had been at Susquehanna for like 40 years.
Nicholas Paulukow
Wow.
Reesy Neff
And then he went to another bank for a while before retiring.
When I wrote my first book, Stripping Off the Labels, he bought it—because that’s just the kind of guy he is—and we got together to talk about it.
We try to meet up periodically because I really value what he has to say. I always walk away with a little nugget of wisdom.
Nicholas Paulukow
Wow. Let’s talk about that—your book! Was he part of the inspiration for it?
Reesy Neff
No.
Nicholas Paulukow
A whole different story?
Reesy Neff
Whole different story, yeah.
I had always wanted to write a book, and honestly, I think this ties back to servant leadership too, personally. But being in banking—which is a very conservative industry—made that difficult.
If you look at my book cover, or even just hear the title Stripping Off the Labels, you might assume things. (No, I was not a stripper! Just so everyone understands.) The cover is a little edgy because, let’s be honest, covers sell books.
In banking, I probably wouldn’t have been able to publish it the way I wanted. It’s a very vulnerable book. When I was working with my publisher, she said, “This is really raw.”
And I said, “That’s exactly what I wanted. I wanted it to be authentic and real.”
I grew up very poor. I didn’t finish college. I didn’t come from the “right” family background.
And yet—here I am. I was a regional manager in banking. Now I own a company that’s thriving.
When I wrote the book, I wanted young women (and men, too) to know that your past doesn’t define you. Your mistakes don’t define you.
And there’s another important piece: Own who you are.
Like me—I’ll give you an example. People call me “prissy” sometimes. And you know what? I am prissy. My husband knows it. I know it.
Nicholas Paulukow
You just own it.
Reesy Neff
Exactly!
And if I were ever on a survival reality show, I’d probably charm my way through one episode and that would be it.
But it’s okay. I own it. I like who I am.
That’s what I wanted to convey through the book. My dream job is actually to be a motivational speaker. In the meantime, I’m saving the planet.
I want to inspire others—especially young women—not to be held back by their past or by labels others have put on them.
And it’s been incredibly rewarding when people—men and women—come up to me after I speak and say, “Wow, I can relate to that.”
That’s another way I live out servant leadership.
Nicholas Paulukow
And to be able to put that into words…
Some people experience those things but don’t have the gift of expressing it.
Reesy Neff
I appreciate you saying that.
I always say I could never write fiction—I’m not that creative.
But I can write about how something makes me feel.
Nicholas Paulukow
How long did it take you to write the book?
Reesy Neff
A long time.
I was going through some rough times—in between leaving banking and starting my business.
It took me three years.
I wanted it to only take one, but life happens.
I partnered with a lovely lady named Demi Stevens—she became my publisher, writing coach, everything.
She patiently walked with me through that process.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s neat. And you met her through a servant leadership connection, right?
Reesy Neff
Yes!
Which I think says a lot in itself.
I’m very proud of this—
I started the Women Living United chapter for York County’s United Way. They didn’t have one at the time.
I went to a meeting—it was all men.
(No offense, Nick!)
Nicholas Paulukow
(Laughing) I hear you.
Reesy Neff
I went up to the gentleman running it and said, “This doesn’t feel like Living United.”
Nicholas Paulukow
What was his response?
Reesy Neff
He said, “Well, what are you going to do about it?”
And I said, “I’m going to do something about it.”
I didn’t even realize at the time that Women United groups existed across the United Way system—York just didn’t have one yet.
Funny how God works:
At the time, I was working in banking with a woman who had started the Harrisburg Women United chapter.
So, I went, learned from their mistakes and successes, and brought that knowledge back to York.
We launched it—and I got named Volunteer of the Year for it!
It’s still going strong today.
It’s one of my proudest accomplishments—part of my servant leadership journey.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s amazing.
And obviously, those experiences fed directly into what you put into the book, right?
Reesy Neff
Absolutely.
Nicholas Paulukow
So how did those experiences shape the business you run today?
Now we move from leadership… to books… to recycling!
Tell us more about that journey.
Reesy Neff
Let’s talk about the business side first—and then the passion behind it.
In banking, it’s all about sales, service, and operational soundness.
I sat across from people who had their information stolen. I dealt with ATM skimming, wire fraud—all of it.
So, protecting data became a very real and important thing to me.
Then there’s the environmental side: I have grandchildren.
We need this planet to be here for them.
E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream—and it’s increasing tremendously every year.
Only 17% of it is recycled properly, even though 70% of landfill waste is electronic waste.
From a business perspective, it all kind of came together.
But there’s more.
One day, when I was still in banking, I had to terminate 23 people in a single day.
Nicholas Paulukow
That must have been so hard.
Reesy Neff
It was awful.
Banks do what they do—they merge. It’s part of the industry.
But the worst part was sitting across from people who were losing their jobs—and others who got to stay but were mad because they wanted their severance packages.
It was heartbreaking.
My husband finally said, “You need to come home.”
Between that, other personal challenges, and losing my best mentor at work—it broke me.
It was the tipping point.
And that’s when I knew:
“I can’t keep doing this.”
Nicholas Paulukow
Wow. That’s powerful.
Nicholas Paulukow
You really went through a lot.
And you mentioned your husband—he was already running his own business, right?
Reesy Neff
Yes.
My husband owns a separate company.
He sells shredding equipment—to companies like the Mayo Clinic and others all over the world. People will call him and say, “I have this, how do I destroy it safely?”
He works mostly in secure data destruction, but also with huge industrial machines—machines that could shred something as big as a refrigerator!
Nicholas Paulukow
Wow!
Reesy Neff
Yeah!
And then he has an umbrella company: Better Shredders and Better Harvesting Solutions.
Believe it or not, the cannabis industry needs shredders too—because legally, cannabis products have to be shredded and mixed with non-cannabis material before disposal.
And now he’s even recycling styrofoam.
He created the first American-made hot melt densifier for styrofoam.
It melts the material into reusable forms—like surfboards, picture frames—you name it.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s incredible.
Reesy Neff
It is.
And it all ties back to environmental stewardship.
So, when I left banking, my husband said, “You’re not going to sit still, and you’re going to drive me crazy. Let’s get you a box truck and you can sell onsite data destruction services.”
And I said, “YES! Let’s do it.”
Nicholas Paulukow
(Laughing) He had the salesperson of the year at home and needed to put her to work!
Reesy Neff
Exactly!
But—this was January 2020.
Nicholas Paulukow
Oh no…right before COVID.
Reesy Neff
Yep.
Not the best time to start a new business, especially one built around face-to-face meetings.
I couldn’t sit across from someone and say, “You really shouldn’t just wipe that drive—you need to shred it to be sure.”
And convincing people of that through Zoom?
Not so easy.
So after a year of struggling, I started praying hard.
I said, “God, I can’t go back to banking. Please, show me another way.”
That’s when my husband reached out to a client in Florida—an amazing man who said, “We’d like to pay it forward. Come down here. We’ll show you how we built our business.”
Nicholas Paulukow
Wow. That’s incredible.
Reesy Neff
It was an absolute blessing.
We flew to Florida in February 2021.
He showed us everything.
No competition, no gatekeeping. Just pure servant leadership.
And because of his kindness, I made a promise:
When I have the chance, I will pay this forward too.
In fact—we just recently did that. A young man wanted to get into the business, and we opened our doors to him just like they did for us.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s amazing. It really is servant leadership in action.
Reesy Neff
Exactly.
So we came back home—and shifted gears.
We expanded from just data destruction into full recycling of IT equipment.
We married data destruction with recycling—and followed that Florida business model of providing our services for free to clients.
That’s how Omega eCycles was born.
Nicholas Paulukow
I love that story. And I love how your entire business model was built on mission and values, not just making money.
Reesy Neff
Exactly.
When we came back and started Omega eCycles, the very first thing I wanted to do was make sure we had a mission statement and values that we lived by—not just something pretty hanging on the wall.
When I partner with other companies, the first thing I do is check their website.
Do they have a mission statement?
What are their values?
Do they align with ours?
And when I meet people, I ask myself, “Is this someone we can work well with?”
Because I had experienced too many environments where values were just memorized words—and no one actually lived them.
It was critical to me that we build a company where every employee would think, “If I have to go to work, I’m glad it’s here.”
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s incredible.
And that really brings us back to servant leadership—you’re building an environment, not just a company.
Reesy Neff
Yes. And now, I’m teaching my son—who’s our general manager—those same principles.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s fantastic.
Because you’re teaching him to lead selflessly rather than selfishly.
Reesy Neff
Exactly.
We have real conversations, like,
“How did you handle this situation with the employee?”
“Did you thank them for what they did today?”
It’s intentional.
Nicholas Paulukow
You know, there’s a great book you might love called The Go-Giver.
It’s about that exact principle—that what you give, you get back.
Reesy Neff
Oh, I believe that one thousand percent!
Actually, I was on another podcast with someone from my industry, and he connected me with a young man in New York.
I said, “Come down. I’ll show you what we do.”
And we did.
That whole pay-it-forward model—it just keeps going.
Nicholas Paulukow
I love that.
We have a group in my industry too, where theoretically we’re all competitors—but we meet quarterly to help each other grow.
It’s amazing when you realize there’s enough success for everyone if you have the right mindset.
Reesy Neff
Yes!
It’s all about humility, too.
You have to be willing to ask for help.
Nicholas Paulukow
Right. And that’s real servant leadership in practice.
Now, let me ask you this:
How do you balance the pressure of growing your business—meeting payroll, hitting numbers—with your commitment to sustainability, ethics, and servant leadership?
Reesy Neff
It’s not always easy.
I’m not going to lie.
I’m very goal-oriented. I’m naturally a galvanizer—laser-focused on results and growth.
But this mission—this culture—brings me so much joy that it keeps me anchored.
I intentionally self-check.
If I’m feeling sad or off, I stop and ask:
“Have I been in the warehouse lately?”
“Have I checked in on my people?”
Because when I lose touch with them—that’s when I start feeling disconnected.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s powerful.
You have to stay grounded in what gives you joy—not just what grows the numbers.
Nicholas Paulukow
You mentioned the importance of staying connected to your team.
And your business involves high-stakes work—data destruction, compliance, trust.
How do you instill a culture of trust and accountability with your employees?
Reesy Neff
It starts with telling them our story.
When employees know where we came from—when they understand the “why” behind what we do—it changes everything.
I share our mission and values in every conversation, especially during onboarding.
And I make sure my team knows:
What we do is important.
We don’t just recycle computers.
We protect people’s privacy.
We protect the environment.
We serve a bigger purpose.
When my son, who manages day-to-day operations, makes decisions, I always ask:
“Does this align with our mission?”
“Does this match our values?”
Because if it doesn’t, it’s not the right decision—even if it seems easier or faster.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s brilliant.
And you’re right—a lot of leaders just say “do it,” without explaining why it matters.
Reesy Neff
Exactly.
There’s a great book called The Question Behind the Question that dives into that.
When someone pushes back or hesitates, there’s often a deeper question they’re not voicing.
If employees understand the “why,” they’ll take more pride and ownership in what they do.
Nicholas Paulukow
Now, what about when you get the wrong fit?
Someone who’s not a bad person—but maybe doesn’t align with the mission or culture?
Reesy Neff
Thankfully, we’re still small enough that this hasn’t happened yet at Omega.
But if it did, I would approach it as a fit conversation—not a fault conversation.
I’d say something like,
“I think we’re not well-matched. That’s okay—it just means you’ll thrive somewhere else better.”
And honestly, that mindset came from my years in banking.
I had to have a lot of difficult conversations.
Nicholas Paulukow
It sounds like you balance kindness with truth.
Reesy Neff
Yes.
Be kind. Be truthful.
You can’t go wrong if you lead with both.
My youngest daughter used to call it “the Godfather talk” because I would be very calm and gentle—but direct.
Apparently, it’s scarier to be calm than to be loud!
Nicholas Paulukow
(Laughing)
I love that. It’s true! Calm confidence is powerful.
Reesy Neff
Exactly.
And look—people either don’t perform because they don’t know how or because they don’t want to.
That’s what my husband always says.
So first, you figure that out:
- Is it a training issue?
- Or is it a motivation issue?
From there, you can have the right conversation.
Nicholas Paulukow
Simple—and brilliant.
Nicholas Paulukow
You mentioned earlier that starting a business from scratch is a Herculean effort.
I think a lot of people see success but don’t see what it really took to get there.
What were the biggest challenges for you?
Reesy Neff
There were a lot.
First, I was blessed to have my husband as a mentor.
He’s been self-employed for over 12 years, so when I would panic—like, “We don’t have enough pickups scheduled this week!”—he would say, “Relax. It’ll come.”
When we first started, it was just the two of us in a 2,500-square-foot warehouse.
And I’m a very good marketer—so we’d get busy really fast…
And then we’d get overwhelmed.
We couldn’t keep up!
Then I’d have to pull back on marketing, catch up, and start again.
It was a push-pull cycle.
Nicholas Paulukow
The flow of feast and famine, right?
Reesy Neff
Exactly.
At one point, my husband said, “You’re going to find me dead in this warehouse.”
And he wasn’t joking—we were that busy.
I was also “wire girl”—untangling massive knots of wiring for recycling.
(If you’ve ever seen Christmas Vacation where they pull out that giant ball of tangled lights—that was me!)
Nicholas Paulukow
(Laughing) Oh man!
Reesy Neff
And then one day my husband said, “Your nails look like…the S-word.”
And that was it! I said, “Okay, I’m retiring as wire girl. We need to hire.”
Nicholas Paulukow
Hiring that first employee is scary though, right?
Reesy Neff
Terrifying.
Because I feel responsible for their lives.
It’s not just a job—especially when you’re employing people who are supporting their families.
For example, we have a gentleman who’s a first-generation immigrant.
Part of his culture is caring for his parents as well as himself.
So when I hired him, it wasn’t just about his paycheck—it was about the whole family.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s a lot of weight to carry.
Reesy Neff
It is.
But my background in banking helped a lot.
One of the top three reasons businesses fail—according to banking studies—is growing too fast.
You start making money…you think you can scale…you overspend…then cash flow kills you.
So even when it was hard—especially during those early slow days—I reminded myself:
Don’t grow too fast.
Stay steady.
Protect the foundation.
And now, we have incremental, positive growth.
We don’t lose clients.
We’re growing sustainably.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s really smart advice.
Reesy Neff
And honestly, one of the best things my mentors taught me was:
“Feel the fear—and do it anyway.”
Because some days, it is scary.
When we upgraded from 2,500 square feet to 7,000 square feet?
I called it the “pucker-up moment.”
Nicholas Paulukow
(Laughing) I call it that too! The “pucker-up factor”!
Reesy Neff
Exactly!
You make these big moves—you hire people, you sign bigger leases—and it’s terrifying.
But if you’re grounded in your mission…
If you’re smart about your growth…
You just do it scared.
Nicholas Paulukow
You do.
It’s like having a child—you don’t know exactly how to prepare for it, but you figure it out because you have to.
Reesy Neff
That’s exactly right.
This business is my baby.
It’s my legacy.
It’s what I hope to leave for my family—and for the future.
Nicholas Paulukow
It’s really inspiring hearing how you’re building not just a business, but a legacy.
Tell us a little more about that—about the personal side of your mission.
Reesy Neff
Absolutely.
I hope Omega eCycles becomes an opportunity for my family—especially my son and my grandchildren.
I have three grandkids and one more on the way.
My six-year-old granddaughter is all over our website—because we’re a family business, and this is why I do what I do.
I want her, and all of them, to have a world that’s better because we were here.
And maybe—just maybe—this business could be an opportunity for her someday too.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s incredible.
You’re living your mission both professionally and personally.
Reesy Neff
And it even shows up in how I coach her.
She’s six—and already being called “bossy.”
And I tell her,
“No, honey. You’re not bossy. You’re developing leadership skills.”
We reframe it early.
Nicholas Paulukow
You’re coaching everyone around you!
Reesy Neff
(Laughing) I know!
My husband always jokes that he’s getting a “coaching session” every day.
But it’s true—coaching is part of who I am now.
Nicholas Paulukow
I love it.
Now—we always end the podcast with a speed round.
Are you ready?
Reesy Neff
Let’s go!
(Do I get a prize?)
Nicholas Paulukow
(Laughing) We’ll make sure you do!
Okay—fill in the blank:
A great leader always ______.
Reesy Neff
Listens.
Nicholas Paulukow
Love that.
Next: What’s one leadership principle you wish more CEOs understood?
Reesy Neff
Understand what keeps their people up at night.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s powerful.
Because leaders might think, “Oh, that was just a small thing,” but for the employee, it could be huge.
Reesy Neff
Exactly.
Even when I was in banking, I learned—
If you don’t answer a client’s concern right away, they’ll stay up all night worrying.
Same thing with employees.
Small things matter.
Nicholas Paulukow
Can I borrow that one? I’m definitely using that!
Okay—next:
What advice would you give someone who wants to lead with purpose but doesn’t know where to start?
Reesy Neff
Find a mentor.
And I don’t mean a paid coach (though there’s nothing wrong with that).
I mean a servant leader—someone who will invest in you because they want to, not because they’re charging you.
That kind of mentorship just feels different.
Also: Read.
Good books can change your life.
Nicholas Paulukow
You’re going to love The Go-Giver when you read it.
And yes—books and real mentors are game-changers.
Reesy Neff
Absolutely.
And to anyone out there—if you get the opportunity to mentor someone, do it.
You never know how much impact you can have.
I was blessed with people who poured into me—and I want to keep paying that forward.
Nicholas Paulukow
That’s so good.
And you’re right—so many entrepreneurs think they have to do it alone.
But finding the right support makes all the difference.
Reesy Neff
Exactly.
Especially because starting something from the ground up is a Herculean effort.
It’s hard.
It’s scary.
But it’s also full of joy if you’re connected to the right purpose.
Nicholas Paulukow
Well said.
Nicholas Paulukow
Well, today, that’s a wrap for this episode of Servant Leader’s Library.
Reesy, it has been absolutely wonderful having you on the show.
Thank you for sharing your journey, your wisdom, and your heart with us today.
I love how you’re leading a purpose-driven business with Omega eCycles—and empowering others through your story and your words.
Your story is such a powerful reminder that servant leadership is about showing up with authenticity, courage, and compassion, no matter where you come from or what labels the world tries to place on you.
You’ve given us real-world insight into the impact of servant leadership—not just in business, but in legacy, in family, and in making the world a better place.
To our listeners:
If Reesy’s message resonated with you, make sure to check out her memoir, Stripping Off the Labels, and her contributions to Becoming an Unstoppable Mompreneur and Unstoppable Women magazine.
Reesy Neff
Thank you!
Nicholas Paulukow
And as always, thank you for joining us.
I’m your host, Nicholas Paulukow.
Until next time—keep serving, keep leading, and keep showing up for others the way only true servant leaders can.
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