How You Make It

Have you always dreamed of starting a business your family could run for generations? Do you have the chance to step out of your current career track to help steer a family business? It’s a big leap, but the Minnick family is happy to share the joys and watchouts of working with family. Listen to a heartfelt case study in entrepreneurism and family business success told by three CPAs. You’ll also...

Many people who successfully climb the ladder at Fortune 500 companies have trouble converting their skills and knowledge to a small business they start and lead. Fred Minnick got it right. Learn what skills and knowledge honed on larger stages translate to running a family-owned business vs what you can only learn by becoming an entrepreneur. When Fred Minnick Sr. decided to leave the Fortune 500...

When Brian and Heather Arlinghaus decided it was time to convert his HVAC expertise and her business operations know-how into their own business, they had no idea how their dream would grow and their aspirations continue to climb. Today, their pink trucks can be seen throughout the region, and their faces are familiar to many residents of Greater Cincinnati thanks to billboards and public buses. H...

For many aspiring entrepreneurs, the opportunities to buy an existing business or franchise a successful brand are appealing. Generational transfer of ownership is offering younger people a shot to become owners and seasoned businesspeople an opportunity to expand. Bill Aseere is a homegrown franchise success story. In addition to a personal passion for products sold at the store he owns and opera...

Dan Catalano, a former Fortune 500 manufacturing executive and long-time board member, shares how he became acquainted with Heritage Bank — first experiencing the personal character of its leadership, then learning why smaller banks are sometimes the best fit for businesses, even large ones. Also, he shares his newest passion, building up the efficiency and profitability of small manufacturers in...

If your business needs help with building, Hermes Construction could be the right partner. From helping customers develop an upfront budget, to producing a rendering of the finished building to overseeing the entire construction process, Hermes Construction provides A to Z support for any commercial construction project. Learn how evolving in response to the market has kept Hermes Construction a v...

You know Cammy Dierking as a consummate broadcast journalist and popular local anchor. If you’re in the commercial construction industry, you might have met her husband, John Graf. But did you know they are the owners of a successful manufacturing operation in Loveland, Ohio? Listen to the story of two cautious people who took a leap of faith that has transformed how they imagined their “golden ye...

You know what Rob Braun’s up to these days, but what about his long-time colleague Cammy Dierking? Would you believe she spends her days driving a forklift? Catch up with Cammy Dierking, former Channel 12 anchor, and her husband, John Graf, as they share their entrepreneurial journey with Rob. Find out what Graf Manufacturing produces and how the couple decided to make manufacturing their joint se...

What kind of a bank takes a chance on an ex-Ringling Brothers Circus Clown? The kind of bank who knows its community. The kind of bank who can’t be scared off by a unique loan structure. The kind of bank who recognizes a strong business plan and the opportunity to help a struggling community find its mojo again. In this episode of How You Make It , the founder of Circus Mojo & Bircus Brewing C...

So many entrepreneurs are caught up in launching, growing, pivoting or just getting the work of their business done day-to-day, they neglect to think about retirement until very late in the day. Whether you are considering wrapping things up in five years, 10 years or 15 years, that’s a conversation you need to have with your business attorney. Presented by Heritage Bank, specializing in small bus...

In this episode, Brian Dunham of Dunham Law explains why entrepreneurs should not wait until they run into a legal issue before forging a relationship with an attorney focused on counseling small businesses. In fact, you shouldn’t hang out your shingle or accept your first order before you meet with an attorney who can ensure your company is set up right from the beginning. Don’t miss this episode...

We launched this episode in mid-June because we just couldn’t resist the timing: It’s our Father’s Day edition! Rob Braun has been a serial entrepreneur his entire adult life, and it has apparently rubbed off on his namesake, Robert Braun. In this edition of How You Make It, Rob Braun, interviews his son, Robert Braun, about his entrepreneurial journey. Learn why Robert left a great corporate job...

Nick Salsgiver, SVP, Head of Heritage Bank Treasury Management, is back to talk about services you might not know to ask your bank about and to urge business owners to protect themselves against fraud now before they become victims. Presented by Heritage Bank, specializing in small business banking. Member FDIC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https...

Nick Salsgiver, SVP, Head of Heritage Bank Treasury Management, explains how the services his department offers business customers can solve some of their most vexing problems, including how to get paid faster. Whether you’re a start-up or celebrating a milestone anniversary, a robust Treasury Management department at a community bank can make your business stronger. Presented by Heritage Bank, sp...

For more than six decades, families living in Florence and in surrounding communities have relied on Florence Pediatrics for their children’s primary health care. Robert Tagher, MD, is carrying on his father’s legacy and the values he instilled in the practice from day one while continuing to evolve to reflect what health care professionals have learned about caring for children in recent decades....

How does the head of a family-owned company know whether the company they’ve nurtured and a child or grandchild are a good match? What are some guidelines for making sure the progeny of entrepreneurs find their own wings? And how they should eventually join the company, if that’s what they decide to do. Presented by Heritage Bank, specializing in small business banking. Member FDIC. See Privacy Po...

For almost seven decades, the Reigler family has been paving services across the Tri-State. The company started as a farmer’s side gig — paving his neighbor's driveway. Today, his grandchildren run the company — whose trucks and signs you seem to see everywhere when the weather is right for paving driveways, parking lots and roadways. Reigler Blacktop employs about 200 local people and owns its ow...

Ryan McCullough has been running his own business for more than a decade, but he still remembers what it was like to work for someone else. Learn how his years as an employee paid dividends once he was at the helm. Ryan McCullough built a successful career in sales but couldn’t shake the sense that the best product he had to sell was himself. Finally, he took the leap, leveraging his experience wi...

Our conversation with Stephen Mann of Blue & Co. continues. He shares what not to expect from your CPA, including legal advice as well as his tips for building a successful career as an entrepreneur or advisor to entrepreneurs. Presented by Heritage Bank, specializing in small business banking. Member FDIC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https:...

Entrepreneurs need access to capital, but they also need expert advice on managing cashflow and taxes. That’s where accountants come in. Stephen Mann of Blue & Co. is a CPA, accredited in business valuation and Director-In-Charge of the Cincinnati Office. He has worked with leaders of small to mid-sized businesses for decades, helping them to understand the numbers and ratios that indicate the...

Gene Harbstreit returns to discuss how he ended up as an entrepreneur rather than an employee. Find out what he has learned so far on his journey, building a business from scratch and growing it. Presented by Heritage Bank, specializing in small business banking. Member FDIC. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-i...

Gene Harbstreit often finds himself explaining what his company does to people outside of his industry. His customers have no trouble understanding PA Technologies’ value proposition. Process Automation Systems are a niche but crucial part of a successful, modern manufacturing process. Gene Harbstreit and his partners are succeeding by consolidating a fragmented collection of design, engineering a...

BJ David comes clean on the benefits he has enjoyed since striking out on his own as well as some of the stresses he manages when everyone else has gone home for the day. BJ David’s first job out of college was with a family business — Gold Star Chili. A decade later, he decided to leverage what he learned running fast-food restaurants to start his own business. Start up costs were less than $200....