Željko R.

CheddarList

A hired poacher who gets things done. Our working world needs some reworking. That’s why we’re fixing a broken system by flipping the hiring process on its head: We empower employers to apply to vetted talent. 

Fire the old way of hiring. Apply to vetted talent instead of hoping they'll find you.

Founder

The Big Red Balloon

The Big Red Balloon started as a small boutique digital footprint firm that I founded and managed. Since our inception, we have been developing hybrid mobile and web-based applications.

Managing Director

Founder at CheddarList / bootstrapper / I'm pro-opera and love APIs

Hi I'm Željko an entrepreneur on a mission to fire the old way of hiring. Founder of CheddarList and passionate amateur winemaker.

At CheddarList "you're hired" without the tired means that you will escape the hamster wheel of phantom job postings. We believe when people are hired with respect for their time and value, everyone wins.

For both talent and employers, the current hiring process can make medieval torture seem like a Sunday stroll.

Our Mission 
‍To remove the friction from the hiring process.

Our Vision
‍A world where nothing gets between the right opportunity and the right talent.

Ranked #1 in the industry by the owner of the company and his mother. 

Weekdays at around 8PM I write spaghetti code.

Before anything, I am an Orthodox Christian. Revelation 1:8 

P.S. I enjoy playing chess and am quite crafty with the ♞. DM me if you want to play a round.

Extreme Networks

●	Lead the vendor operations team, achieving 10% cost savings through strategic sourcing, improved procurement practices, risk and competitive assessments, supplier consolidation, and performance management.
●	Enhanced vendor onboarding processes by refining and streamlining procedures to ensure compliance with corporate legal standards, reducing internal lead time by 50%, minimizing operational risks, and promoting spending transparency through detailed analytical oversight.
●	Managed over $100 million in vendor contracts, securing $10 million in savings by building strategic partnerships, employing financial strategy, and conducting rigorous contract negotiations to drive fiscal stewardship and operational efficiency.

Senior Manager, Product Operations

GeekEx

Event Director

●	Produced over a dozen premier B2B events, focusing on educational and networking opportunities for marketers, affiliate marketers, direct-to-consumer brands, lead generation specialists, and high-net-worth individuals.
●	Led operations and boosted profit margins by over 20% in the first year through operational and financial optimizations, including process improvements and budget reallocations.
●	Achieved a 25% cost reduction by negotiating favorable terms with vendors, partners, and stakeholders and streamlining operations to enhance event profitability and efficiency.

Head of Operations / COO

Elemental Race Timing

●	At Elemental Race Timing, we’ve provided professional race timing and event management since 2009. We work alongside event directors and staff to create unforgettable race experiences. Our dedication to precision and professionalism ensures that your event is in the best hands every step of the way.
●	As an experienced and RRCA Certified Race Director, I have successfully managed hundreds of races, emphasizing safety-focused planning, efficient organization, and active participant engagement to ensure events of the highest standard.

●	Oversaw comprehensive fitness programs across multiple facilities, tailoring workouts and nutritional advice to diverse client needs. Managed gym operations focusing on safety, efficiency, and creating a positive environment for clients and staff; demonstrated proficiency in staff development and fostered a team-oriented atmosphere.
●	Utilized advanced fitness assessment tools to track client progress, enabling personalized goal-setting and strategy adjustments. Provided motivational coaching, underpinned by exceptional customer service, to ensure client satisfaction and enhance commitment to fitness objectives. Excelled in building client relationships through understanding individual motivations and customizing coaching approaches.
●	Maintained professional certifications in fitness and pursued continuous education to stay abreast of the latest industry trends and research. Integrated new techniques and insights into fitness programs, ensuring cutting-edge service delivery. Committed to personal and professional growth, fostering industry best practices.

Fitness Professional

CLS Holdings USA / Natural Medicine

●	Led diverse teams in developing top-tier products in multiple state markets, achieving top 10% rankings across numerous categories through intelligent operational and financial management.
●	Implemented data analytics to optimize supply chain operations, achieving a monthly inventory variance of less than 0.1% and overhauling hardware and raw product procurement strategies. This resulted in a gross margin increase of over 50%.
●	Managed $6 million and $4 million phases of a cultivation and production facility project, ensuring complete audit compliance from the Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) and conducting effective contract negotiations, including master service agreements (MSAs), pricing, and service level agreements (SLAs).
●	Delivered significant growth in wholesale operations during Nevada's cannabis legalization, enhancing supply chain efficiencies by 10x to 50x, achieving a 50% increase in revenue, and fostering a positive work environment with a low personnel turnover rate of less than 8%.

Head of Operations / General Manager / Regional Manager

MGM Resorts Event Productions

●	Planned and executed over 15 large-scale events and trade shows in Las Vegas, collaborating with cross-functional teams to align with organizational objectives and deliver exceptional attendee experiences.
●	Maintained operational protocols for inventory management, health and safety compliance, and cycle timelines, increasing efficiency and successfully managing multimillion-dollar event budgets.
●	Served as the primary escalation point for suppliers and the event & commercial operations team, resolving complex issues and fostering solid relationships with stakeholders to ensure seamless event execution and enhance client satisfaction.

Event Manager

SageWater

●	Directed project management for over 2000 inhabited repipe and rehab projects, showcasing strong leadership and operational skills, and managed the daily operations of SageWater's largest territory in Nevada, effectively overseeing large-scale, complex projects.
●	Coordinated closely with diverse teams and stakeholders, ensuring projects were completed on time and within budget. Utilized project management tools and methodologies to track progress, identify and mitigate risks, and make necessary adjustments to project plans.
●	Fostered strong relationships with clients and stakeholders, maintaining effective communication and managing expectations throughout the project lifecycle. Demonstrated a commitment to client satisfaction and stakeholder engagement in all project phases.

Senior Project Manager

US Army

●	Served with distinction in various capacities, including Combat Engineer, Unit Operations Specialist, Armorer, Mail Room Supervisor, Unit Parts and Logistics Lead, and demonstrated adaptability and leadership in diverse locations such as Missouri, Germany, and California.
●	As a Combat Engineer, executed essential tasks like construction, demolition, and route clearance to support combat operations and troop movements. Facilitated efficient unit operations, contributing to the planning, training, and execution of missions, enhancing unit readiness and effectiveness.
●	Managed armory operations, maintaining accountability and readiness of weapons systems and equipment. Oversaw mailroom operations, ensuring timely and efficient mail distribution to unit personnel. Led unit parts and logistics, coordinating the procurement, distribution, and inventory management of essential supplies and equipment.

Combat Engineer

Senior Operations Leader | Embracing Unwavering Execution & Extreme Ownership Principles

I am a dynamic operational leader with extensive experience in comprehensive execution, strategic planning, operational efficiency, and developing high-performing teams. Proven track record in achieving significant results, including a 20% increase in profit margins and successful management of global operations. Adept at adapting quickly to changing business environments, I employ a results-driven approach and collaborative leadership style to drive operational excellence and deliver tangible outcomes.

Committed to continuous learning and professional development, I seek new knowledge and skills to stay current with industry trends. With a keen eye for identifying and implementing operational improvements, I am eager to leverage my extensive experience and proactive mindset to contribute significantly to an organization's growth and success.

"... Jimmy's integrity, bias toward action, and laser focus allowed our organization to scale. He was the heartbeat that took us from operating in the red into the black < 1 year, scaling our organization > 10X ..." Anoop Grover, COO

Jimmy Gabany

Complex plans fall apart. Simple ones get finished.

Clarity speeds up everything. When the goals are clear and the coms are simple, people stop guessing and start moving. Teams that know what “done” looks like can make decisions without waiting for permission.

Simplicity is not a lack of ambition. It is the discipline to strip away noise so the work can actually get done.

#leadership #operations

financial-match

geekex

elemental-race-timing

Talks about #execution, #leadership, #operations, #extremeownership, and #businessmanagement

Senior Operations Leader | Operations Systems Builder | Global Vendor Strategy & Management | Event Direction | Extreme Ownership

Opportunity rarely waits for perfect clarity.

Default Aggressive means you move when you have enough information to make a smart call. Leaders who hesitate miss openings that will not come back. Leaders who act with purpose set the pace for everyone else.

It is not reckless. It is controlled forward movement. You set guardrails, think through the risks, and commit.

When people see decisive action, they stop waiting for permission. The culture shifts from playing it safe to capturing opportunities that others overlook.

Bold execution creates advantages that slow organizations never see.

#leadership #operations

Excuses stop progress. Ownership builds it.

When something goes sideways, the fastest way out is to take responsibility and move. Leaders who do that create momentum because the team sees action instead of complaints and excuses. People pay attention to how you respond when the pressure hits. Do you step up or do you crumble?

Accountability is not about blame. It is about setting a standard where responsibility feels normal and progress feels expected.

#leadership #operations

Clarity often requires distance.

When leaders get too close to problems, emotion clouds judgment. Detachment means stepping back to see the whole picture.

It is not disengagement, it is perspective. By observing instead of reacting, leaders can identify patterns, anticipate risks, and choose better paths.

Detachment creates objectivity. It turns chaos into actionable insight. Leaders who practice it make sharper decisions and avoid costly overreactions.

Sometimes the best move is to pause, breathe, and step back.

#leadership #operations

Ignore operations, and your strategy goes nowhere.

Plans only matter if someone can turn them into real work. Operations is the engine that keeps everything moving. Without it, even the best strategy sits in a slide deck and never touches the ground.

Ops is where ideas gain traction and momentum becomes real.

#leadership #operations

Leadership isn't about being unbreakable. 
It's about being unshakable when everything around you is chaos. 

Mental toughness isn't a gift; it's a skill you build. 
It's not in your personality; it's in your principles. 

The strongest leaders I know don't let emotions run wild. 
They have a blueprint—rules they follow when the storm hits. 

Here are 11 rules the mentally tough swear by: 

1. Don't expect fairness 
↳ Life throws challenges, not fairness 
↳ Accept what is, adapt accordingly 

2. Separate facts from feelings 
↳ Facts are objective, feelings are subjective 
↳ Know what's influencing your reactions 

3. Focus on what you control 
↳ Energy is limited; use it wisely 
↳ Invest in areas you can influence 

4. Take full responsibility 
↳ Own your actions and results 
↳ That's where your power lies 

5. Let go of needing approval 
↳ Not everyone will get your vision 
↳ That's okay, their approval isn't your goal 

6. Learn, then move on 
↳ Extract lessons from the past 
↳ Dwelling only wastes energy 

7. Prioritize wellness 
↳ Mind and body are linked 
↳ Neglect either, and you suffer 

8. Embrace change and calculated risks 
↳ Growth lives outside the comfort zone 
↳ Evaluate, then leap 

9. Stop waiting to feel ready 
↳ Confidence is built through action, not preparation 
↳ Just start 

10. Set boundaries, no guilt needed 
↳ Your time and energy matter 
↳ Protect them fiercely 

11. Rest without guilt 
↳ Recovery isn't a reward, it's part of performance 
↳ You can't operate at your best running on empty 

Mental toughness isn't immunity from hardship. 
It's the skill of navigating it. 

Which rule do you lean on most? 
Drop it in the comments. 

Repost if you know someone working hard to build resilience. 
Follow for more insights on leadership and mental toughness.

Wisdom under pressure reveals character more than comfort ever will.

Leaders are tested in chaos because panic strips away pretense. Wisdom means trusting the Lord, leaning not on your own understanding, and being willing to adjust when facts demand it.

When you lean on systems or emotion alone, you'll misread the path. But when you anchor decisions in humility and wisdom, even failure becomes a lesson.

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

When was the last time you changed course because humility pointed out your blind spot?

#leadership #operations

How to Manage Performance - EchelonFront.com #leadership #EchelonFront

Markets move. Technology evolves. Customers change.

Adaptation is not optional. Leaders who cling to old strategies while the world shifts get left behind. Innovation keeps teams relevant.

Experiment. Test assumptions. Encourage iteration. Allow for small failures that generate big lessons. Innovation does not appear by accident; it is built into culture.

Adaptable leaders listen closely, learn quickly, and pivot decisively. Survival and growth depend on it.

The businesses that last are not the biggest; they are the most adaptable.

#leadership #operations

When politics drives decisions, talent disengages.

Meritocracy means rewarding performance, not relationships. It sets clear standards and measures people on results.

Promoting based on politics destroys culture. Promoting based on merit builds it. When people know their contributions matter, engagement and innovation increase.

Leaders must choose fairness over favoritism if they want teams that trust the system.

#leadership #operations

Trust requires honesty.

Leaders who speak openly prevent crises. Hidden problems will continue to grow. Transparency builds confidence.

Truth builds trust.

#leadership #operations

taplio

The Battle

Željko R.

Jimmy Gabany

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The Battle

Željko R.

Jimmy Gabany

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Jimmy Gabany's LinkedIn Performance

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