Homegrown Hustle

What if the right conversation could change the direction of your business? On this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman sits down with Art Shore, CEO and Founder of MB Mentors, and Makeesha L. Allen, Mentor at MB Mentors, to explore the power of mentorship in building stronger businesses and a stronger local business community. Art shares the story behind MB Mentors, an organization bui...

What does building wealth really mean beyond making money? And how can business owners ensure that years of hard work translate into lasting financial security and a meaningful legacy? On this episode of Homegrown Hustle , host Matt Eickman sits down with Stacy Kupsky, Co-Founder of Wayzata Bay Private Wealth Management, to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, purposeful wealth building,...

What does it take to grow a business without losing sight of the people behind it? On this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman sits down with returning guest Jeffry Brown, Executive Speaker and Coach, for a conversation that turns the tables and explores Matt’s entrepreneurial journey with Abra Kadabra, a second-generation family-owned pest and wildlife control company. Matt shares the...

What happens when a personal challenge sparks a new passion and a business opportunity? On this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman sits down with Nikki Lund, Owner and Head Spa Specialist at MN Hair Witch Salon, to explore how her nearly 17 years in the hair industry led her to specialize in scalp care and head spa treatments. After experiencing hair loss herself, Nikki pursued further...

SUMMARY: What does it take to turn marketing efforts into real business growth? On this episode of Homegrown Hustle , host Matt Eickman sits down with Michelle Redberg, Chief Growth Officer at Tessara Consulting , to discuss how small and midsize businesses can strengthen their sales strategies, improve marketing performance, and build teams that drive results. Drawing on more than 20 years of exp...

What does the customer journey really look like? On this episode of Homegrown Hustle , host Matt Eickman sits down with Dr. Mike Porter, Clinical Professor of Marketing at the University of St. Thomas , to unpack what happens before, during, and long after a customer makes a purchase. They explore why businesses shouldn't rely solely on word of mouth, how every employee can influence the custo...

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What happens when a growing business reaches the point where managing people becomes just as complicated as managing the business itself? On this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman sits down with Nicki Leritz, Founder of People Solutions Hub, to unpack the often-overlooked people side of entrepreneurship. After a 20-year career in corporate human resources, Nicki launched People Soluti...

What started with a simple problem—finding jewelry that actually fits—evolved into a creative, family-run business built around crystals, jewelry, carvings, and the relentless hustle of the event circuit. On this episode of Homegrown Hustle , host Matt Eickman sits down with Alyssa Fuller and Jeremy Streit to explore the evolution of their business, from small farmers markets to major county fairs...

What happens when real estate becomes more than buying and selling property? In this episode of Homegrown Hustle , host Matt Eickman sits down with Candice Amundson, Realtor® at JPW Realty Pomerleau Team , for a strategic conversation about real estate investing, short-term rentals, hospitality, and entrepreneurship. Candice shares how her journey from a 20-year career as a veterinary technician e...

What does it take to build a business when you start with uncertainty, limited resources, and plenty of reasons to quit? In this episode of Homegrown Hustle , Matt Eickman sits down with Jeff Essig to explore the mindset and decisions behind building Clean ’N Seal from a small paver-sealing operation into a diversified company spanning abrasive blasting, specialized coatings, commercial projects,...

What happens when AI agents—not customers—start searching, comparing, booking, and buying from businesses? In this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman sits down with Janahan (Jan) Rajaratnam, Founder of Agent Agnes, to explore how AI is reshaping small and midsize businesses. Jan shares his journey from Sri Lanka to entrepreneurship and explains Agent Agnes’ vision for an agent-to-agent...

What makes work truly meaningful—and how can businesses and nonprofits build organizations around purpose rather than profit alone? In this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman sits down with Christopher Wong Michaelson, academic, business advisor, and co-author of Is Your Work Worth It?, and Emily Hunt Turner, founder of All Square, for a deep conversation about purpose, principled lead...

Finding the right commercial space is about far more than signing a lease. In this episode of Homegrown Hustle , Matt Eickman sits down with Justin Trittin , Associate Broker at NAI Gateway Commercial , to unpack the realities of today's commercial real estate market and explain why expert representation can save business owners tens—or even hundreds—of thousands of dollars over the life of a leas...

Building a successful business takes more than great products or services—it requires strong community connections and long-term planning. In this episode of Homegrown Hustle , Matt Eickman sits down with Michael Darger , Extension Specialist in Community Economics at the University of Minnesota Extension, to discuss business retention, economic development, and why succession planning is critical...

In this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman welcomes Tracy Bergland, Vice President of Business Banking at Citizens Independent Bank. Tracy shares her non-linear journey into commercial lending and details her passion for advocating for minority- and women-owned businesses in the boardroom. The discussion breaks down the exact mechanics of commercial loan underwriting, the critical role...

SUMMARY: What separates thriving businesses from those that constantly struggle with cash flow? According to Chad Zejdlik, Vice President of CorTrust Bank, it isn't just revenue—it's financial discipline, strategic planning, and building the right banking relationships long before capital is needed. In this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman sits down with Chad to unpack the fi...

SUMMARY: Building wealth as an entrepreneur requires far more than maximizing profits or chasing investment returns—it demands intentional decision-making, strategic planning, and alignment between business, family, and long-term goals. In this episode of Homegrown Hustle , host Matt Eickman sits down with Brian J. Adamek , Founder of E-Wealth Partners, to explore the unique financial challenges b...

What does it take to build a company that thrives for more than a century? In this episode of Homegrown Hustle , host Matt Eickman sits down with Steve Gullickson , President of MGK (McLaughlin Gormley King) , to unpack the leadership principles, innovation strategies, and long-term thinking behind one of the pest management industry's most respected manufacturers. Steve shares MGK's remarkable jo...

What separates high performers from everyone else? According to Jason Verdugo, Athletic Director at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, it starts with learning how to handle hard things. In this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman sits down with his former baseball coach and mentor, Jason Verdugo, to explore the intersection of athletics, leadership, organizational culture, and pers...

What separates a skilled tradesperson from a successful business owner? In this episode of Homegrown Hustle, Matt Eickman sits down with Nick Thelen, CEO of Thelen Plumbing, Heating & Air, to unpack the journey from working in the field to leading a rapidly growing home services company. Nick shares how the 2008 recession unexpectedly redirected his career path, ultimately leading him to launc...

SUMMARY: In this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman sits down with Tiff Hoeft, founder of Fierce Decorum, systems strategist, and mother of four, to unpack why so many entrepreneurs become trapped inside the businesses they created for freedom. Tiff shares her journey from corporate roles and network marketing into building a thriving systems and operations consulting business that hel...

What separates thriving businesses from those that constantly struggle to acquire and retain customers? In this deep-dive conversation, Dr. Mike Porter, Clinical Professor of Marketing at the University of St. Thomas, joins Matt Eickman to unpack the psychology, strategy, and research behind successful marketing. From qualitative research and customer discovery to brand positioning, customer journ...

In this episode of Homegrown Hustle, host Matt Eickman sits down with Lucie Misfeldt, Community Engagement Manager at City & County Credit Union, for an in-depth conversation about the evolving role of community-centered business strategy. Lucie breaks down the misunderstood world of credit unions, explaining how member-owned financial institutions operate differently from traditional banks an...

SUMMARY: In this episode of Homegrown Hustle , host Matt Eickman sits down with Evan Rechelbacher, founder of Zero Trace Baits, to unpack the intersection of entrepreneurship, environmental stewardship, product innovation, and persistence. Evan shares his journey from teaching youth fish camps and studying entrepreneurship at the University of St. Thomas to building a disruptive fishing technology...