Q.A.C Team

Change isn't always easy, but sometimes it's exactly what you and your business need to move forward. In Episode 110 of Friday at Four, we're talking about change, what it takes to make changes in your own life, how to recognize when your business needs a new direction, and why real improvement starts with being willing to look at things differently. Whether you're a business owner...

In Episode 9 of Chasing the Stars: Tasted and Rated, we're putting the $20 budget to the test. Our journey takes us to:Chard BBQ in Upperco, MarylandRocky's BBQ in Columbia, PennsylvaniaUncle John's BBQ in Clayton, DelawareLimestone BBQ in Wilmington, DelawareBut there's a problem, when we arrived at one of our planned stops, Uncle John's BBQ was closed. So what do you do when...

What does it really mean to look, act, and be professional? On this episode of Friday at Four, Steve and Charles chat with Henry Tolbert for a conversation about something that can make or break your career, your business, and the way people see you: professionalism. Professionalism isn't just about wearing the right clothes or having the right job title. It's about how you present yoursel...

Businesses don’t stay the same and neither should the way we run them. In Episode 108 of Friday at Four, we to talk about the evolution of businesses how companies change, adapt, and sometimes need to rethink what made them successful in the first place. We discuss the challenges business owners face as their companies grow, why yesterday’s strategies may not work tomorrow, and the importance of r...

What’s the real difference between being an employee and an entrepreneur? In Episode 107 of Friday at Four, we chat with special guest Mark Collins for an honest conversation about the two very different paths people can take in their careers and businesses. We explore what it means to work for someone else versus building something of your own, including the challenges, opportunities, risks, resp...

Finding good employees is one of the biggest challenges facing business owners today. But what if the problem isn't the labor shortage? What if it's the way businesses are hiring, training, managing, and evaluating their people? On this episode of Friday at Four, we take a brutally honest look at the hiring process and ask some uncomfortable questions:• Are businesses hiring people they sh...

Team vs. Me: Can Your Business Run Without You? Here's a question every business owner should ask themselves: If you weren't there tomorrow, could your business keep running? Do you have someone you can count on to step in when you're away? Someone who knows what needs to be done, can make decisions, take care of your customers, and keep the business moving? Or does everything still de...

What happens when a bestselling story makes the jump from the page to the screen? In this special interview, I speak with Chef Joe Gatto to talk about his upcoming role as director of Lost Echos, based on the book by acclaimed author Joe R. Lansdale and starring Jeff Speakman. Joe shares his perspective on taking on the director’s chair and bringing Lansdale’s story to life on the big screen.https...

In Episode 8 of Chasing the Stars: Tasted and Rated, we're hitting the road for another food adventure. But this time, it's all about ice cream! We visit three ice cream stops across Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania, putting them to the test to see which one delivers the best experience. But there's a twist. There's also a stop for food along the way at The First Post Restauran...

Looking good today doesn't guarantee you'll be successful tomorrow. In Episode 103 of Friday at Four, we asked the uncomfortable question: Are you prepared for what comes next? Now, in Episode 104, it's time to take the conversation one step further. As a business owner, knowing that change is coming isn't enough. You have to decide what you're going to DO about it. Are you bui...

What happens when everything looks good today but you’re not prepared for tomorrow? In Episode 103 of Friday at Four, Charles Luttrell and Steve take on a reality that applies to business, careers, and finances:Looking successful today doesn’t necessarily mean you’re prepared for what comes next. A business can be doing well and still be vulnerable. A career can look successful and still lack a pl...

How much of what happens to us is really about us? In Episode 102 of Friday at Four, Steve and Charles tackle the powerful idea of, “Don’t Take Anything Personally.” Joined by special guest Lisa Conway, they explore what happens when we stop assuming that every comment, criticism, reaction, or difficult interaction is a reflection of our own worth. Is it possible to separate someone else’s behavio...

When does following up become too much and when are you giving up too soon? In Episode 101 of Friday at Four, Charles Luttrell and Steve Kent tackle a question every business owner, salesperson, and entrepreneur should be asking:How often do you follow up with a lead or potential client? You made the connection. They showed interest. Maybe they even said, “Let me think about it.”Then… silence. Do...

As America celebrates 250 years, we discover what makes communities truly exceptional. In Episode seven of Chasing the Stars, we visit Bel Air, Maryland, where we explore three local businesses and evaluate them using the Q.A.C Team Star Performance Index, a professional assessment that goes beyond online reviews to measure customer experience, community impact, pride of ownership, and overall bus...

Welcome to the 100th episode of Friday at Four! In this milestone episode, Steve Kent and Charles Luttrell are joined by special guest Adam Ward to discuss a challenge almost everyone faces: staying focused at work when life outside the office is pulling your attention in every direction. Whether you're dealing with family responsibilities, financial stress, health concerns, or personal strugg...

What separates small businesses that struggle from those that thrive? In Episode 99 of Friday at Four, Charles Luttrell and Steve Kent discuss why small business owners need to think bigger, not just about revenue, but about systems, customer experience, marketing, leadership, and long-term growth. Whether you're a local restaurant, retail store, contractor, financial advisor, or service busin...

Communication can strengthen relationships, or quietly destroy them. In Episode 98 of Friday at Four, Steve Kent and Charles Luttrell explore one of the most important skills anyone can develop: effective communication. Whether you're talking with your spouse, children, friends, coworkers, employees, customers, or your boss, the words you choose, and how you deliver them, can make all the diff...

Success in business doesn't start with better marketing, better sales, or better systems. It starts with knowing yourself. In Episode 97 of the Friday at Four Podcast, Steve Kent and Charles Luttrell explore why self-awareness is one of the most overlooked competitive advantages in business. The better you understand your strengths, weaknesses, communication style, and leadership approach, the...

As America celebrates 250 years of independence (1776–2026), we take a step back to recognize the people who truly built this nation. Not just the large corporations we know today, but the millions of entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, local shops, farmers, craftsmen, and innovators who have served their communities for generations. In Episode 96 of Friday at Four, we discuss how small busine...

In Part two of our Local vs Grocery Chain Produce series, Chasing the Stars continues the comparison between big-name grocery quality and true local freshness while also highlighting a unique stop in our hometown. This episode puts Wegmans produce head-to-head against two local standouts: Brad’s Market and Sunny Dreams Farm. We break down taste, texture, freshness, and overall value to see which t...

Who should you listen to when the stakes are high? In Episode 95 of Friday at Four, we tackle one of the most important questions you'll ever ask yourself:Who deserves a voice in your decisions? Today, advice comes from everywhere, social media influencers, friends, family, coworkers, podcasts, YouTube, and complete strangers online. But not every opinion deserves equal weight. The quality of...

In Episode 94 of the Friday at Four Podcast, host Charles Luttrell and co-host Steve Kent are joined by special guest Nathan Konialian to tackle one of the biggest challenges facing society today:How do we know what to believe anymore? From social media posts and viral videos to AI-generated content, online reviews, news articles, influencers, and business marketing, we're surrounded by more i...

Are your priorities helping you move forward or quietly holding you back? In Episode 93 of the Friday at Four Podcast Series, hosts Charles Luttrell and Steve Kent tackle one of the most important topics in business and life: priorities. Everyone says family, health, growth, customers, and success are important. But if someone looked at your calendar, your bank account, and your daily habits, woul...

In Episode 92 of the Friday at Four Podcast Series, hosts Charles Luttrell and Steve Kent tackle one of the biggest questions facing employees, business owners, and leaders today:Is it time for a change? Whether you're questioning your current job, wondering if your pay reflects your value, debating a career move, frustrated with management, considering a new business direction, or struggling...

Harvest season is here, and it's time for one of our biggest comparisons yet! In Part 1 of this special Chasing the Stars series, Charles Luttrell heads to Wegmans and Lohr's Orchard to compare the quality, freshness, appearance, value of their fruits and vegetables during peak harvest season. Can a local orchard outperform a major grocery chain? Or will Wegmans prove why it's one of t...