BEAR Discussions

Host Charlie Walker sits down with Annie Hubatch of Bean Brook Land Restoration and Nursery to discuss how she turned 16 years as a rural mail carrier into a customer-focused small business. From careful plant labeling to ready-made garden kits, Annie’s attention to detail and commitment to quality help build customer loyalty and support local jobs.

From the NFL to the world of business and capital, Chad Cascadden knows what it means to recognize an opportunity and be ready when it arrives. In this episode of BEAR Discussions, host Charlie Walker and co-host Matt Guse sit down with Chad, a Chippewa Falls native and former Wisconsin Badger and New York Jets linebacker. Today, Chad brings lessons from football into his work with Blitz 53 Capita...

Host Charlie Walker and cohost Ken Pearson sit down with siblings Derek and Ashley, third-generation owners of Northern Family Farms, to explore how a Christmas tree farm grew into a thriving nursery business. They discuss balancing family and business, embracing innovation, and building lasting partnerships—all while staying rooted in family-first values.

On this episode of CEDC BEAR Discussions, host Charlie Walker and co-host Lisa Bruhn sit down with entrepreneur and BEAR at the Orchard winner Jose Lagunas Jr., founder of Rockwell Home Management. Jose shares how his experiences as a Marine, firefighter, and paramedic helped him identify a problem and turn it into a business focused on helping people safely age in place. He talks about using tech...

Host Charlie Walker sits down with LaToya Woodard, founder of Country Getaway Adult Day Services near Bloomer, Wisconsin. LaToya shares how her personal experience as a family caregiver inspired her to create a warm, welcoming space for adults with dementia, disabilities, brain injuries, and other care needs. They discuss caregiver burnout, navigating resources and insurance, building a purpose-dr...

In this episode of the BEAR Discussions Podcast, Charlie Walker sits down with Victoria Thayer, CPA and founder of NOVII CPA, to talk about helping entrepreneurs turn their financials into a tool for confident decision-making. Originally from Venezuela, Victoria shares her journey from engineering student to business owner, along with practical advice on tracking profit, revenue, and cash flow; as...

In this episode of the BEAR Discussions Podcast, Charlie Walker talks with Becky Mullane of Dixon’s Apple Orchard, Dixon’s Wedding Venue, and Autumn Harvest Winery. Becky shares how she learned the apple business alongside her grandfather in New Mexico, helped preserve the family’s signature Champagne apple, and rebuilt her family’s future in western Wisconsin after wildfire and flooding forced th...

What happens when a second-generation roofer and a marketing professional dream big? Host Charlie Walker visits 6Four Accord in Barron County to hear how Tyler and Deanna Westphal transformed a construction shop into a one-of-a-kind destination centered on connection, community, and creating lasting memories. From entrepreneurship and agritourism to live reindeer, live music, faith, and family, Ty...

Host Charlie Walker and co-host Karen Smith take BEAR Discussions lakeside to Backwoods Waterside Bar & Grill on Chain Lake in Rusk County. Owner Brett Larson shares how he and his ownership group rescued a 90-year-old icon from the bulldozer, what it takes to run a seven-day-a-week hospitality business, and the hard lesson they learned after running out of beer on opening weekend. State Repre...

In this episode of BEAR Discussions, Charlie Walker and Karen Smith sit down with Adam Baalrud, owner of the New Auburn Cheese Company, to discuss his journey from the food science and dairy industry to launching a successful small-town restaurant and cheese shop. From building a business in rural Wisconsin to exploring new opportunities in the cheese industry, this episode offers valuable insight...

Recorded on location at Gilbert's of Sand Creek, this episode of the BEAR Discussions Podcast features host Charlie Walker and co-host Karen Smith in conversation with Steve Olson and Clay Olson. Together, they discuss the dealership's history, the value of family ownership, leadership, innovation, and what continues to drive the business forward in the Chippewa Valley.

Host Charlie Walker sits down with Kelli Cook, founder of The Yoga Plant in Chippewa Falls, to talk about how saying yes to everything led to burnout—and how learning to say no transformed her energy, her business, and the community she serves.

Tune in to this episode with host Charlie Walker and cohost Ken Pearson of Jackson County Economic Development & Tourism for a conversation with David Epstein, recorded in Jackson County. Listen as owner of Mosser Lee, David Epstein shares insights on real-world challenges and opportunities in rural communities, and how treating your employees well can go a long way toward building strong, suc...

Nine‑time American Ninja Warrior and entrepreneur Maggi Thorne joins host Charlie Walker and co‑host John Gatto  to share how she learned to see every setback as opportunity, not opposition. From starting as a custodian to managing multi‑million‑dollar projects and stepping onto the American Ninja Warrior stage, Maggi unpacks the mindset, resilience, and faith it takes to keep moving forward when...

In this episode of the CEDC Bear Discussions podcast, Charlie Walker sits down with Momentum West Executive Director Steve Jahn to discuss the power of partnerships in economic development.  Learn how collaboration among communities, businesses, educators, and economic development organizations has helped make Western Wisconsin a thriving place to live, work, and invest.

Join hosts Charlie Walker and cohost Ron Haas, President of the Stanley Chamber of Commerce, on the BEAR Discussions Podcast as they sit down with retired U.S. Army veteran Dan Osborn, owner of Wisconsin Veterans Farm & Winery in Cornell, Wisconsin. Tune in to hear his journey from military service to building a unique agritourism and winery business rooted in purpose, community, and veteran e...

Join hosts Charlie and Lisa on the Bear Podcast as they interview Matt and Shawna Gwiazda, owners of Mag Stainless in Cadott, Wisconsin. Tune in to hear their journey building a nationally recognized stainless steel fabrication company right here in Chippewa County.

Charlie and Ken discuss the unique challenges of rural and home‑based businesses, the power of community banks, and how to build a banking relationship before you really need it.

Host Charlie Walker is joined by Nick Ford from UW–Stout’s Manufacturing Outreach Center for a conversation about supporting small and mid-size manufacturers in western Wisconsin. They explore lean and TWI-based training, process improvement, AI in manufacturing, workforce development, and safety strategies that help manufacturers operate more efficiently and stay competitive.

Joe Roshell of Orion Defense Systems joins BEAR Discussions to share how “old boys” mentoring, smart partnerships, and steady learning helped him build a growing commercial roof-coatings business through volatile early years, talent challenges, and rapid innovation in both coatings and AI-driven marketing

In this episode, we sit down with filmmaker and therapist Andrea Polnaszek of the Boylan Sisters to talk movies, books, Wisconsin’s growing film industry, and how stories connect communities.

Charlie sits down with Brandon Mitchell of Block 49 Meats to explore how a family legacy evolved into a modern meat business. Brandon shares the realities of launching a startup, the challenges and rewards of building a company from the ground up alongside his spouse, and the importance of strong mentors and community connections along the way. The conversation offers practical insights and lesson...

This episode features Amanda Novak, entrepreneur and founder of NovaSky Marketing LLC, a company guided by creativity, strategy, and leading from the heart. We talk about Amanda’s path into entrepreneurship, how she started and runs NovaSky, and why staying people-first matters in business. It’s an honest conversation about growth, values, and keeping a clear vision while building something meanin...

In this episode of BEAR Discussions, we sit down with Scott Coller of Gesund Health Data, the HATCH 25 winner, for a conversation centered on the power of mentorship. Scott shares how guidance from mentors shaped his leadership, decision-making, and entrepreneurial journey — and why no one builds a successful company alone. From lessons learned to the importance of paying it forward, this episode...

Host Charlie Walker, joined by co-host Karen Smith, sits down with B and L Transload and Warehousing, LLC and Springbrook Express LLC of New Auburn to talk about their journey in the trucking and transload industry. The conversation covers company history, growth, employee retention, and why putting people first has been key to their success. The guests also share how keeping Christ at the center...