ConversActions

What if one of the most important parts of our food system worked almost entirely while the rest of us were asleep? In this episode, James Hillmeyer, co-owner of LB Werks and a second-generation commercial beekeeper, takes us inside the demanding world of commercial pollination. He shares how healthy partnerships with growers, year-round hive nurturing, and a relentless commitment to customer serv...

What does it take to build a business people can count on when their plans fall apart? Kohl and Jessie Adamson of Cordell's Automotive have turned car trouble into community trust, expanding from one inherited shop to seven locations across Wisconsin and Minnesota. In this episode, they share how they've built a business on "old school excellence" while navigating industry technology changes, crea...

What happens when passion meets practicality in the content creation world? In this episode, Steve Ray, Head of Brand Marketing at Foodist Films , takes us on an unexpected journey from driving the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile to building a successful food videography business – and ultimately pivoting back to what truly matters. From humble beginnings filming farmers markets in Austin, Texas, to crea...

What does it take to compete with billion-dollar companies when you're a small business owner? In this episode, Nick Netley, founder of Sota Shine Car Wash , reveals how he's disrupting the booming car wash industry through bold innovation and calculated risks. From selling the #1 Camp Bow Wow franchise in the United States to building what will be the world's longest car wash at 305 feet, Nick sh...

How do you transform a 50-year-old metal foundry into a cutting-edge digital technology company? In this episode, Mike Klonsinski, President of Berntsen International, reveals how his company made the dramatic leap from forging metal survey markers to developing RFID-enabled smart infrastructure that connects the physical world to digital twin systems. From providing Lewis and Clark Trail markers...

What's the difference between surviving and thriving as a small business owner? In this episode, Tina Lockwood, co-founder of Lockwood Enterprises, reveals how proper financial structure and strategic thinking can transform a new or struggling business into a profitable, scalable enterprise. From starting in their home office to establishing a brick-and-mortar presence after 15 years, Tina and her...

A great meal is about more than just the food – it’s about connection, seasonality, and a dash of storytelling. In this episode, Chef John Bogan, founder of the Lake Geneva School of Cooking, invites us behind the scenes of his high-energy kitchen and reveals how he’s reimagining culinary education by making it as welcoming as a gathering at home. From humble roots on an upstate New York "farmette...

Despite all our technology, one in three adults in America reports regular loneliness. This week’s guest, Brad Steckar t, founder of Sit By Me, shares how his own experience working remotely inspired him to create an app that helps people break down social barriers in everyday spaces like cafes, bars, and libraries. You’ll hear the research behind the loneliness epidemic, the surprisingly scrappy...

Meet Paul Scharfman, the founder of Specialty Cheese Company and one of the most unconventional innovators in American dairy. From getting fired in corporate America to building an award-winning specialty cheese business in Wisconsin, Paul shares the origin story behind his journey, and how a Boston outsider became a Paneer Cheese pioneer. He breaks down lessons from corporate life, innovation in...

Today we meet Steve Glynn, the founder and Chief Milwaukee Officer of Experience Milwaukee , and the force behind Milwaukee's Walkers Point Innovation District . Steve’s entrepreneurial journey includes the start-up Sprinklr, a creative agency built by empowering college students. After selling the business, Steve shifted to connecting people, ideas and opportunity. In this episode, Steve shares h...

Guy Rehorst is the founder and CEO of Great Lakes Distillery , Wisconsin’s original post-Prohibition distillery. From hobbyist homebrewer to pioneering entrepreneur, discover how curiosity, experimentation, and an engineer’s perspective led him to transform the Wisconsin’s spirits landscape. Find out about the challenges of building a craft distillery from the ground up, from navigating regulatory...

Mary Brazeau Brown is the president of Glacial Lake Cranberries and the fourth generation of her family’s farm. She joins ConversActions to explore the traditions, stories, and sustainable practices behind Wisconsin’s iconic fruit. From the fascinating origin of Glacial Lake Cranberries to the year-round work of growing and harvesting, Mary shares wisdom passed down through generations and lessons...

Grant Pauly, founder of 3 Sheeps Brewing, shares a story that starts in his family’s concrete business and takes a bold turn into beer – after a handshake deal at a local brewpub launched what’s now a thriving, award-winning brewery known for creativity and craftsmanship. He built 3 Sheeps Brewing from the ground up, balancing passion with practicality, and along the way learned how to build a bra...

Andrew Hutchison is the president and head baker at Madison Sourdough. What starts as a story about bread becomes one about craft, resilience, and legacy. Andrew shares how a fine arts degree – and even getting fired from his first bakery shift – led him to discover the discipline and patience behind great bread and great leadership. He and Bill explore how fermentation, teamwork, and time shape n...

Host Bill Mitchell sits down with Eric Lund, CEO of S&L Hospitality and a driving force behind Great Wolf Resorts, the brand that reinvented family vacations with the indoor water park. Eric shares how Great Wolf grew from a clever idea into a nationwide phenomenon, the hurdles of financing a brand-new resort model, and why a people-first culture still drives success. He also looks ahead at th...

Meredith Baciak, Wellness Coordinator at Miron Construction, joins the show to share how meeting people where they are – whether on bustling job sites or in quiet one-on-ones - is reshaping mental health in a traditionally tough industry. Meredith explains why wellness at Miron goes far beyond tracking steps or reducing insurance costs. It’s about human connection, fostering a culture where it’s o...

Sometimes the most essential innovations are the ones you never see. In this episode, Cindy White, President and CEO of Channeled Resources Group, takes us inside the surprising world of release liners – the unsung heroes behind labels, bandages, and packaging. Cindy shares how the company evolved from traditional recycling to innovative manufacturing, all while championing sustainability and...

Sara Antonson is co-owner of Riverbend Winery & Distillery in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. She joins ConversActions to share how her family transformed Riverbend into a welcoming community hub after taking ownership in 2022, blending family values, hospitality, and innovation. From navigating supply chain hurdles to leveraging social media, she offers candid insights into the challenges and rewa...

Team-Driven Veterinary Success Listen in as Dr. Kara Nelsen, founder of Allied Emergency Veterinary Services shares her journey from emergency vet to building a five-location clinic network. Discover how her commitment to harmony and empowering her team fuels resilience in a competitive industry. 3 Key Takeaways Team Focus Drives Quality Care Through an ‘administration-light’ structure Kara makes...

Nurturing Dreams at Work: The Evolution of Coaching at Miron Construction In this episode, Eric Marcoe shares the story behind Miron Construction’s innovative Dream Project, how coaching has evolved within the company and lessons for fostering personal growth and safe conversations at work. 3 Key Takeaways: Dream Project Origins Inspired by the book The Dream Manager by Mathew Kelly, Miron Constru...

LinkedIn Success with Wayne Breitbarth In this episode, host Bill Mitchell welcomes Wayne Breitbarth, one of the nation’s top LinkedIn trainers, to talk about all things LinkedIn for business professionals and entrepreneurs. Wayne shares his journey from office furniture salesman to LinkedIn authority, discusses how the platform evolved from a job search site to a broad business hub, and reveals p...

Betting the Farm: A 5th-Generation Dairy Farmer Tees Up Golf Success Ever wondered what it takes to swap milking cows for managing fairways? In this episode, Jessica Blaska-Grady , the general manager at Kestrel Ridge and The Oaks golf courses shares the inspiring journey from her family’s dairy tradition to running two thriving Wisconsin golf courses. Tune in as she uncovers the lessons in a Midw...

Healing Inflammation with Chef Lauren Posa  This week Convers Actions  welcomes Chef Lauren Posa, wellness advocate and energy force behind The  Farmacy –A Restorative Eatery . We learn why so many common foods are making you sicker – often without you realizing it. In this episode Lauren explains&n...

Octopi Brewing is another great example of our guest business leaders revealing success lessons, in this case the ability to weather mistakes along the way. This week, we chat with Isaac Showacki, the mastermind behind Octopi Brewing. He distills the basics of the craft beer scene and how he built Octopi into one of the Midwest’s biggest contract brewing companies. Here’s what’s on tap in this epi...

Zebras and Camels and Geckos – Oh My! How does an electrical engineer create an innovative early childhood education model? Bob Davis, founder of Little Explorer and Inspire Early Childhood Learning Center , faced countless funding rejections before breaking through. In this episode, learn how Bob turned every setback into an opportunity, engineering a unique educational model that fosters creativ...