Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray

There’s more to recovery after breast cancer treatment than many people realize, and returning to exercise can be part of that journey. In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane welcome back Rita-Nicole Wright, owner of Beyond Group Fitness in Saraland, for another pink-inspired conversation. Rita talks about working with breast cancer survivors as th...

There’s a lot more to physical and occupational therapy than many people realize. In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials sits down with Sara Beck, owner of Foundation Health, to talk about what led her to open her own practice and the approach she wanted to bring to patient care. Sara shares some of the lessons she’s learned as a business owner and what it takes...

As a business grows, the financial side of running it can become more complex, and business owners can find themselves spending more time managing the business and less time doing what they do best. On this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray , Dani Dials sits down with Mark Dunaway, Area President of FocusCFO, to talk about what happens when a business reaches that stage and how a fractiona...

There’s the practice of medicine, and then there’s the business of running a medical practice. In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani sits down with Dr. William Boyd, who has spent more than 30 years building and running his own practices. He shares why he chose private practice early in his career, how student loan debt factored into those decisions and some of the bu...

A good idea is only the beginning. Figuring out how to turn it into an actual product and build a business around it is where the real learning begins.   In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials sits down with Jelly-Smack owner Stephen Smith to talk about the journey from identifying a need for sting relief to developing a product people could actually buy. Stephen shares...

What if your industry isn’t boring? Maybe you just haven’t found the right stories to tell. In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani sits down with Ben Kaiser, founder of Kaiser Media Group, to talk about how businesses can use content to become known for what they do best. Ben shares lessons from building a YouTube channel that reached more than 50 million views and hel...

Golf carts aren't just for the golf course anymore. They've become part of everyday life for families and communities, while also serving a very different purpose for commercial customers. In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani sits down with Cartiology owner Chris Szabo. Coming from a family of entrepreneurs, Chris started his first business at just 19. He shares how that entrepr...

What does it take to build a successful forestry mulching business… and what happens when the people building it are also family? This week on Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani sits down with Tiffany Vick of Vickco Mulching and Land Solutions for a conversation about entrepreneurship, family, and finding opportunity in an industry many people may know very little about. Tiffany breaks do...

Building a business that lasts takes more than passion. It also takes planning. In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray , Dani sits down with Jordan Gerheim, CEO of Outside Chief Legal, to talk about the legal side of growing a business. They discuss how entrepreneurs often wait too long to seek legal guidance,  and how having the right legal partner can help businesses make confide...

Marketing isn't what it was five or ten years ago. The way people search, shop, and decide who to trust has changed, and businesses have had to adapt. This week on Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray , Chelsey and Dani sit down with digital marketing strategist Chelsea Hilyer for a conversation about the evolution of digital marketing. They discuss how customer expectations have shifted and what busine...

Have you ever gotten a text asking if you'd sell your house? Or maybe someone called out of the blue wanting to buy a property you didn't even know was connected to your name. In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani and Chelsey sit down with Rhen Bartlett, CEO of Heartland Buys, to answer the questions so many homeowners have. How do these companies find you? Why do they target cer...

What if one of the most important chapters of American history was hiding in your hometown? Or, in a city you've never visited? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani sits down with Eric Finley to explore why people from across the country travel to Mobile, Alabama, to experience the Dora Franklin Finley African American Heritage Trail. Founded by his late cousin, Dora Franklin Fi...

Every successful business starts with an idea, but ideas alone don't build companies. This week, Dani sits down with Keith Glines, Director of Hatch in Fairhope, to talk about what it takes to turn big ideas into thriving businesses. They discuss the value of mentorship and community, and how Hatch is helping founders connect with the resources, relationships, and guidance they need to grow. If yo...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani and Chelsey reflect on the incredible impact a community can have when people choose to show up for one another. Inspired by the overwhelming support surrounding Heavenly Pies Pizzeria and the encouragement they received from nursing students at Spring Hill College, they explore how small acts of support can create lasting impact.   From...

What does it take to prepare young people for success beyond graduation? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Ryan Foster and Dr. Yulanda Clinton share how Liberty Learning Foundation is helping students develop the character, leadership, financial literacy, and civic responsibility needed to become strong citizens and future leaders. We discuss workforce readiness, entrepreneurship,...

Dirty sodas may be trending across the country, but for Jeff Zeiders, they became the foundation for something much bigger. In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Jeff shares how he went from running a cigar business to launching Bevvy Dirty Sodas in Mobile. He talks about spotting an emerging trend, testing the concept through a mobile operation, and eventually opening a brick-and-mor...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray , Dani and Chelsey sit down with swim instructor Khaliyah Berry, founder of KBreezy Swim,  and author of Scared to Strong . What started as a passion for swimming has grown into a business with a powerful purpose: helping children gain confidence in the water while learning a skill that could one day save their lives. Khaliyah shares her journ...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Dave Nelson of Cyclone 365 for a conversation about cybersecurity, business risk, and the threats most companies don’t think about until it’s too late. From phishing scams and ransomware attacks to internal vulnerabilities and human error, Dave shares what businesses of all sizes are up aga...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani and Chelsey sit down with Rebecca Maisel of Gulf Distributing for a conversation about legacy, leadership, and unexpectedly finding your way back to the family business. Rebecca shares how her grandmother helped start the company more than 50 years ago, and how that influence stayed with her even while building a completely different life and...

In this special episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani and Chelsey sit down with someone who shaped Dani’s understanding of work, discipline, and long-term thinking… her mom, Renee Dials. After a 40-year career as a trusted voice at FOX10 News, Renee didn’t simply step into retirement… she stepped into a plan she had been building for years. While working full-ti...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, we sit down with Kandon Kyser, founder of The Feels Foreal Company, for a conversation about turning creativity into a real, sustainable business. Kandon’s journey started in music, sampling beats and telling stories through sound… and evolved into film, fashion, and now working with entrepreneurs and brands to help them show up more...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, we sit down with “Nanny Connie” Simpson and her daughter, Courtney, for a conversation about building a brand that lasts, and the family behind it.   Known as a “nanny to the stars,” Connie has worked with some of the most high-profile families in the country, building a nationally recognized name in childcare within e...

What does it really take to walk away from stability and start over? In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, Dani Dials and Chelsey Sayasane sit down with Matt Garner, founder of Garner Lawn and Construction. After nearly a decade in corporate leadership, overseeing multiple retail locations, Matt made the decision to step away and build something of his own. He started with one truck,...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, we sit down with fashion photographer Toni Riales, whose journey began with a simple favor that turned into a full-time career behind the lens. After being noticed by Ford Models, Toni stepped into an opportunity that helped shape both her creative style and her approach to business. She shares what it takes to navigate the fashion industry, build...

In this episode of Entrepreneurial Shades of Gray, we sit down with Debra and Reed Pennington, the founders of Bake Blue Bakery, a business built on both purpose and passion. Located in Spanish Fort, Bake Blue was created to provide meaningful employment opportunities for adults with disabilities, addressing a gap that many families experience but few businesses are designed to meet. What started...