BizTech Superhero

Host Joshua McNary welcomes Charley “Sparkle” Lapamardo , a San Diego-based speaker, singer, emcee, and facilitator, to discuss communication, meaningful experiences, and using technology to empower connection. Charley describes Sparkle Works “front stage” work hosting and facilitating team-building experiences as well as  “backstage” coaching that helps speakers unlock confidence and reduce block...

Host Joshua McNary welcomes executive coach and keynote speaker Cory Dunham of Cory Dunham Advisory (Ann Arbor, Michigan), who helps founder-led service businesses close the gap between the value they deliver and the growth they experience.  Cory shares his background co-owning a family marketing business that evolved from pre-internet, handshake-based relationships to modern digital operations, a...

Steve Shriver on Purpose-Driven Entrepreneurship, Automation, and Tech at EcoLips & More Host Joshua McNary interviews Steve Shriver, CEO of EcoLips and Bug Soother in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a serial entrepreneur who owns five businesses and advises startups. Shriver describes EcoLips as a certified B Corp guided by the triple bottom line of people, planet, and profit, and shares how mountaineeri...

Doug Wagner on Modern Radio, Local News Immediacy, and Technology in a Shifting Media Landscape Host Joshua McNary interviews Doug Wagner, morning show host on News Radio 600 WMT and News Talk 1420 WOC (iHeart Media), about radio’s evolution and technology’s impact on media, public service, and community information.  Doug describes AM radio’s historic reach, today’s distribution through the iHear...

Get ready to meet the next BizTech superhero on this episode! Host Joshua McNary talks with Alex Beaumier , founder of Beau Laundry Co. , to dig into the entrepreneurial journey behind crafting the best-smelling, eco-friendly laundry balls in Iowa—and beyond. Alex shares how his background in data science fueled his experimentation in the world of consumer products , his motivations for working in...

Host Joshua McNary talks with Greg Edwards , founder of Watchpoint IT —a Cedar Rapids-based company dedicated to saving businesses time, keeping them secure, and cutting through IT complexity. Greg shares his journey as a serial entrepreneur in the tech and risk management space, highlighting his early ventures in offsite backup, disaster recovery, and his innovative work around ransomware and AI-...

In this next episode of BizTech Superhero, Joshua McNary converses with local business champion Cherie Edilson , founder and CEO of Member Marketplace . Based in Marion, Iowa, Cherie has taken what she first started learning selling handmade goods at farmers' markets and turned it into a nationwide SaaS platform supporting over 8,000 small businesses across 55 marketplaces in 30 states. In the epi...

In this show, host Joshua McNary chats with Suzy DeLine , a content marketing expert and chief content officer at Digital Artisans , based in San Francisco. With a rich background including tenures at Adobe, Intuit, Intel, and PayPal, Suzy shares her unique journey from growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm to leading storytelling initiatives for top tech companies. Whether you’re curious about bui...

Welcome to another episode of BizTech Superhero, where we dive into the stories behind local entrepreneurs harnessing technology to level-up their businesses. In today’s episode, host Joshua McNary sits down with Lexi Matthews , co-owner of Uptown Coffee Co. in Marion, Iowa. Lexi shares her journey from Chicago to small-town entrepreneurship, opening a coffee shop with her husband, revitalizing a...

In this episode, host Joshua McNary chats with content process consultant Maddy Osman , author of Writing for Humans and Robots and founder of The Blogsmith agency. Based in Denver, Maddy is passionate about helping B2B technology brands streamline and scale their content operations with smart technology and optimized processes. Joshua and Maddy dive into the realities of writing and business in t...

In this episode, host Joshua McNary reconnects with longtime friend and special guest Andy Stoll , the founding executive director of the ESHIP Alliance . Andy is a social entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in building entrepreneurial ecosystems and championing innovation in communities across the country. Together, Joshua and Andy dive into Andy’s fascinating journey—from launching...

Joshua McNary is joined by Jen Moulton, president of CE Impact, an education company based in Des Moines, Iowa, dedicated to supporting continuing education for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians. Josh and Jen take a deep dive into the evolving role of technology in education , sharing how CE Impact has transformed over the last 20 years from in-person learning to a primarily online platform . J...

In this episode, Joshua talks with Nicole Mead, partner and director of Business Development at Creative Planning Business Services . Nicole shares insight into how her team leverages cutting-edge technology to empower both their internal processes and client experiences. With a unique background in software engineering and business development, Nicole dives into her organization's recent journey...

In this episode of BizTech Superhero, host Joshua McNary is joined by Alyx Coble-Frakes, CEO and founder of The Agenda. , a mobile app and platform dedicated to supporting women's health. Based in Iowa, Alex shares her entrepreneurial journey—from launching a physical planner that helps women align their work with the four phases of their menstrual cycle, to transforming that concept into a powerf...

In this episode, host Joshua McNary sits down with Mat Winegarden, a seasoned product coach and mentor based in Iowa City, Iowa. With over 25 years of experience in the product and technology space—spanning industries from entertainment to agriculture, EdTech, and AI— Mat brings a wealth of insight on how businesses and teams can strategically leverage technology to drive better outcomes. They div...

In this episode, host Joshua McNary has a convo with Cait Fitzpatrick, co-owner and lead strategist at BWB—a female-founded branding agency in New York . Cait shares her journey from working with Fortune 100 companies to helping entrepreneurs and small businesses craft authentic brands that truly reflect their values. Cait delves into the evolving role of technology in branding, from practical pro...

I'm joined by Connor Borrego, founder of Playhaus —a Kansas City-based startup on a mission to revolutionize data ownership for businesses in a post-cookie world. With a background as an AI product expert at Google and a decade of experience in advertising technology, Connor dives deep into how privacy, browser changes, and the evolving ad tech landscape are creating a need for innovative solution...

We sit down with Brigitte Gemme, founder of Low Impact Lab and the creative force behind Vegan Family Kitchen. From Vancouver, Brigitte shares her refreshing take on blending technology with real-life kitchen creativity, walking us through her evolution from academic project manager to online educator and content creator. Hear how she’s leveraged an evolving tech stack—including WordPress, MemberP...

In this episode of BizTech Superhero, we're diving into the world of web marketing with Mickey Mellen, technical managing partner at Green Mellen. Join your host, Joshua McNary, as Mickey shares the fascinating journey of Green Mellon, from its inception in the early 2000s to its current status as a leader in digital marketing and messaging strategy. Discover how Mickey's firm leverages technology...

In this episode of BizTech Superhero, host Joshua McNary sits down with Heidi Kaisand, the creative force behind Hen and Chick Studio in Conrad, Iowa. Heidi's passion for quilting has driven her to explore innovative ways to integrate technology into her business. Tune in to hear how Heidi leverages artificial intelligence to elevate her quilting retreat experiences, enhance customer engagement, a...

In this episode of BizTech Superhero, host Joshua McNary welcomes Eric Engelmann, general partner at ISA Ventures and partner at Novy, to discuss the innovative use of AI within his startup venture studio. Eric shares his journey from founding his first company, Geonetric, to launching a nonprofit and a startup accelerator program, and how these experiences have shaped his current ventures. The co...