Banking On Business 2

Grace unveils the secrets of brand storytelling magic with co-founders Dave & Michael Neelsen of StoryFirst Media. Learn how storytelling goes beyond marketing to become the core of a successful business strategy. Dave and Michael share insights from their unique father-son collaboration and reveal how they transitioned from production to powerful storytelling consultation. Grace dissects the...

Join host Grace Bruins as she chats with Dr. Stacia Thompson, President and CEO of Sherman Phoenix, about the power of community and collaboration in supporting Milwaukee's entrepreneurs. Dr. Stacia Thompson, a recognized figure for her leadership and innovation, shares about the transformative role of Sherman Phoenix as a non-traditional incubator and entrepreneurial hub. Discover compelling stor...

Join us for an enlightening episode as we explore the intricacies of communication with Brian Hendricks, CEO of Dynamic Developments Training and Leadership. Brian shares his wealth of knowledge on fostering effective communication in both personal and professional settings, highlighting methods to tailor your message and enhance understanding across various communication styles. Brian's journey f...

Grace chats with local community catalyst Robert Kos about the integral role of music and events in revitalizing downtown areas. They explore how strategic partnerships and unique community initiatives can transform small towns into vibrant hubs of activity. Robert shares his journey from musician to downtown director, offering keen insights into the importance of collaboration and community engag...

Welcome to Banking On Business Podcast where we provide practical strategies to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. In today’s episode, we are diving deep into the world of employee training and onboarding with our special guests, Kerry Murphy and Kailey Bauer from Horicon Bank. Kerry and Kailey bring a wealth of experience, having transitioned from informal training roles to formal ones, dr...

Elzie shares his personal story of inadvertently stepping into the world of podcasting—transitioning from seeking knowledge to facilitating a platform for entrepreneurs to voice their stories. What begins as a tale of accidental discovery, unfolds into a masterclass on using podcasting as a lever for business growth and relationship-building. Episode Highlights: 11:45 - Realizing the untapped pote...

Grace talks with Laurie Winters, the innovative leader at the helm of the Museum of Wisconsin Art (MOWA). Laurie shares her unique journey from the Molecular Art Museum to directing the flourishing MOWA, painting a picture of dedication and strategic thinking. Grace and Laurie discuss MOWA's commitment to inclusivity and its impactful role in the local community, highlighting the museum's transfor...

In this vibrant and insightful episode, Grace chats with Julia Taylor about the innovative B-Line Park. Dive in to understand the vision behind the project and the potential impact on the community.    Discover the various activities planned for the park, from cornhole tournaments to live music. Julia also provides some beneficial advice for entrepreneurs – a gem you won't want to m...

Banks, Brands, and BrownBoots In this episode, Alan Hathaway, president of BrownBoots Interactive, shares his journey of helping businesses thrive in the digital space. He dives deep into the significant shift in the banking industry towards building a strong online presence and the unique challenges it presents. Hear how BrownBoots navigates these challenges and uses AI for creative solutions, wh...

Join Terri Herrmann, the driving force behind Charisma Q, and Grace as they unravel the art of teaching charisma, a crucial skill for trust-building leaders. Discover Terri's background, holiday traditions, and a captivating discussion on Calvin Klein's Twitter strategy. Terri emphasizes the teachability of charisma and the awareness of one's baseline across its six components. Learn how Charisma...

From home brewer to the owner of Lion's Tail Brewing Company, Alex Wenzel shares his remarkable journey. With a passion for collaboration, Alex dreams of teaming up with Russian River Brewing Company and drawing inspiration from Germany. He believes in pushing boundaries, embracing failure, and nurturing success. Alex's transition from a chemical engineer to a thriving business manager unveils the...

Dive into the remarkable journey of Christine Gunderson, Founder and CEO of Dreambuilt Books, who was recognized in Insight Publications' 40 Under 40. Christine's work in talent retention is awe-inspiring. From her early days balancing full-time work with studies to her impactful role in youth outreach programs, Christine's mantra "not making it harder to be a human being" shapes her mission to cr...

Grace Bruins interviews Tom Stanton, the founder of Mel's Charities, a non-profit organization that aims to impact lives by providing financial support for individuals with disabilities, memorials, and community impact initiatives. Stanton shares his journey of how Mel's Charities was born and how it has continuously evolved over the years.  Stanton discusses the four puzzle pieces of Mel's C...

Grace is joined by Tricia Rathermel, the president and CEO at Greater Oshkosh Economic Development Corporation (Go EDC). Go EDC was established in 2015 and exists to preserve the health of existing companies, foster a positive entrepreneurial environment, connect companies to workforce and talent development resources, enhance the business climate and promote the quality of life in the g...

In this episode, host Grace Bruins interviews Andy Nelson, the Founder of Natural Resource Innovations about how he combines consulting experience with natural resource management to help businesses grow and succeed. Natural Resource Innovations provides comprehensive natural resource innovation and environmental consulting services for land and infrastructure owners and operators. Nelson shares h...

Chris Berens, Trust Officer-Vice President at Horicon Bank, speaks about success stories and strategies that small businesses can use for financial planning. He explains how he believes in working with third parties to help administer assets correctly when there are no family members available to turn to. He mentions the "holiday clause," which helps preserve relationships among family members by...

In today's episode, Grace talks to Aaron Kuhls, the CEO and Co-founder of AL-INS Enterprises, a separation equipment company. Aaron and his business partner Eric Heiling started the company with a vision to pass it on to their kids. Their primary clientele are dairy farmers; however, they also provide services in the food waste industry by separating solids from water after process completion. The...

Grace talks with Kari Simcakowski, who is a Senior Business Consultant at Heartland Payroll, which is a human-centered technology company that specializes in providing business solutions to small businesses. Kari works on the Human Capital Management side, helping with payroll, hiring, and tax credits. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) is an underutilized tax credit available to employers who...

In this episode, Grace talks to Corrie Kovacs, Client Engagement and Communications Director at First American Capital Corporation, although she describes herself as more of a relationship builder and business coach. Originally, Corrie's background was in theatre but during the pandemic she pivoted and landed a role in Wisconsin Women's Business Initiative Corporation, which led her to working at...

In this episode, Grace interviews Linda Chipman who started Chippy's Popcorn Creations with her husband Scott 20 years ago. They founded the business because they were ready for something different from their 70-hour work weeks in the restaurant industry. They borrowed money from Linda's dad to buy equipment and booked shows, but quickly realized they were losing money at every show. Despite this,...

In this episode, Grace interviews Allison Gossman, co-owner of The Sweet and Salty Pig in Fond du Lac and The Tipsy Pig in North Fond du Lac. Allison shares that her favorite part about owning a restaurant is being her own boss and being able to employ other people. They discuss customer service for restaurants, which can be improved by making sure employees are happy so they can treat customers l...

In this episode, Grace is joined by co-host, Steve Leaman, Senior Vice President for Business Banking at Horicon Bank. They talk to Brad Saunders, Director of Strategy and Coaching at Huberty in Fond Du Lac, about owner exit strategy. Brad's role entails bringing forward some of the advice and understanding in the advisory section of what they can do for business owners. Brad is one of those guys...

With over two decades running Nunatak Coffee in Beaver Dam, businessman Josiah Vilman joins Grace and they talk about how he began roasting coffee to provide better quality coffee. Josiah continues to grow his business by expanding into new markets and developing new taste profiles. He describes how the company started with no prior knowledge of coffee roasting and learned through trial and error....

As a successful entrepreneur, Kyle Rowe knows a thing or two about business growth. In this episode of Banking On Business Podcast, Grace is joined by Kyle Rowe, owner of five Jersey Mike's Stores. Kyle shares his business growth journey and what it takes to run a business in multiple locations. He also shares tips on hiring and retaining employees. Kyle's advice is essential for any entrepreneurs...

As a business owner, you are always looking for ways to protect your business from fraud and scams. In this episode, Grace is joined by Melissa, who shares some tips about how we can protect ourselves from fraud. Melissa explains that business owners need to be aware of the different types of fraud and how to prevent it. She also describes the importance of having a good security system in place t...