Leadership decisions are never purely about authority. Every choice has tradeoffs — team dynamics, organizational alignment, timing, and trust.
The human side of engineering at scale — navigating resistance, quantifying hidden costs, and building the conditions where teams make good decisions on their own.
The best engineering teams don’t need to be micromanaged — they need to be trusted. But trust without accountability is just abdication. Here’s how to build a culture where capable people own their outcomes.
I had the opportunity to work closely with John during some of the most challenging and fast-moving initiatives at Metrc, including the Retail ID program. He consistently brought a strong combination of technical depth, ownership, and steady leadership to the table. …
Chief Product Officer - Retired, Metrc, LLC
Worked with John at Metrc · May 2026
I had the opportunity to work with John and always appreciated his willingness to engage, learn, and push through challenges. He brings a strong work ethic and a thoughtful approach to his responsibilities, consistently showing up ready to contribute and improve. …
Chief Technology Officer, MedSuite
John Reported to James at Ministry Brands · April 2026
I’ve known John Tolar professionally for about 30 years. He’s just a solid guy one who’ll step into a tough situation and stay with it until it’s handled right. He’s smart and easy to work with, and people trust him. I’ve always respected how he handles being in charge. …
Lead Software Engineer, Metrc, LLC
Reported directly to John at Metrc · April 2026