Bigger Than Business

How important is a succession plan to your company’s health? What are the challenges to putting one into place? How can business owners and founders step outside of their egos, face the idea of being replaced, and ask the hard questions on future leadership? Listen as our return guest, Phil Clemens, shares why every leader should create a succession plan long before they intend to hand over the re...

Phil Clemens began his career on the clean-up crew of the family business, Hatfield Quality Meats, and worked his way up to be the CEO of the company. Over the decades, he worked in all areas of the family business, with 20 of those years in Human Resources and seven as CEO and President of the legacy business, now known as The Clemens Food Group. Listen as Phil shares how and why his family engag...

Ty Smith founded Exline Capital, a commercial real estate investment company, after experiencing many facets of the industry as a project manager, an analyst, a dealmaker, and even a ranch manager. Taking that experience and combining it with a desire to build something himself, Ty and Exline work with investors in what he calls the “middle market” in real estate’s four core food groups: office, i...

David Q. Sargent started stocking shelves at Kmart as a junior in high school before parlaying that into a 24-year career with Kmart, Builder’s Square, and The Home Depot. Retiring at the young age of 38, David became a business owner when he and his family bought Stripe-A-Zone, Inc., a pavement marking company in 1996. Over the next 24 years, they grew it into one of the largest and most national...

After accomplishing so much in the Navy, Clay Trantham became a well-respected national leader in heavy steel construction, eventually becoming an industrialist in his own right and a founder of nine companies in the construction, tech, logistics, and real estate industries. Listen as the inventor of the dance move "The Sprinkler" shares how being the middle child of 5 boys prepares one for the bl...

After starting a successful media company while in college, Rand Stagen, at the age of 23 through executive coaching, discovered his passion for personal development. Rand founded Stagen Leadership Academy in 1999, which works with leaders from all over the country on concepts of Conscious Capitalism and taking individual responsibility for moving oneself and others toward desired goals. Listen as...

Elyse Dickerson struggled in school as a result of dyslexia but persevered to find her inner greatness and become a much respected and lauded CEO of her own company. Listen as Elyse shares how she was able to push through low expectations of educators throughout her childhood, and later, the gender-biased behaviors of colleagues to become the accomplished founder and leader of Eosera, a biotech co...

After taking over the family business unexpectedly with only three years’ executive experience under his belt, Larry J. Rybka was able to help grow Valmark Financial Group into an industry leader by constantly adapting to change, and building a team, second-to-none, that maintains the high standards and values his family established from the start. Listen as Larry shares the importance of why comp...

Bill Mahomes grew up in a small Texas town during the Civil Rights era and was not prepared for the racial and academic adversity he would face becoming one of the first black cadets in the Texas A&M Corps. Despite the struggles he faced, Bill was not only the first black student to graduate from the Corps, he also went on to earn a Juris Doctorate, serve as a Captain in the Army Reserves as a...

In our second podcast with Larry North, owner of a successful chain of fitness gyms, radio personality, and best-selling author, he shares with us the stories of his childhood that shaped the trajectory of his life from being broke and on-the-run to a becoming an admired and respected business owner. Listen as Larry relates to us how a desire to help others, and a strong work ethic forged by the c...

Larry North started his first gym in the 1980s and built an empire that includes a radio show, television appearances, speaking engagements, and best-selling books. After spending over three decades focused on helping others achieve their fitness goals, Larry has valuable insight on how little changes can add up to big positive results and how tweaking your thinking can be key to your success. Lis...

In addition to helping grow his family’s company that experienced 43 straight profitable years, Alan Petsche built his own portfolio of companies, starting when he was a junior in high school! Entrepreneurial spirit instilled in him by his father at a young age ensured that Alan would not only seek success on a business front, but it would also lead to a legacy of helping others. From comic books,...

Listen in as Sunny speaks about what Conscious Capitalism is, what kind of mindset it takes to weather a storm like COVID-19, the key lessons he has learned that will help leadership in today’s climate, and how it all starts with one simple concept: caring. Sunny Vanderbeck is co-founder and managing partner of Satori Capital, a private equity firm in Dallas/Fort Worth that has been voted a Best P...

David Green had only three goals in life – to build a happy marriage, to raise healthy, well-balanced children who served God, and to succeed in business. With a $600 loan and the untiring support of his wife Barbara, they began a small arts and crafts business about the size of a ‘lobby’ that not only became a giant in the industry, it became one of the largest ‘business as ministry’ examples in...

Mike Hernandez wanted to be an engineer, but when he graduated from Texas A&M University, the oil bust of 1983 set him on a different path that led to his eventual ownership of D&M Leasing, the nation’s premiere auto leasing company, and several other flourishing enterprises. Listen as Mike shares how running a business is similar to running a college football team, and what it takes to gr...

Rusty Shaw was headed to dental school when his father approached him about becoming an oil jobber in his fledgling company in 1970. With little more than faith in the company’s potential, Rusty grew a fuel distribution business into a successful convenience store chain and real estate empire. Listen as Rusty explains what his “dash” is, and how important it is to succeed in life and business. Rus...

Dave Lopez is the youngest of five in a family where every single family member became a part of the McDonald’s system. After gaining experience in various positions throughout that system, Dave earned a position on the executive team at Lopez Foods, an award-winning McDonald’s supplier. Listen as Dave shares his advice on how to grow as siblings and executives as the company evolves, and how exce...

Dr. Mary Hudelson is a partner in a thriving medical practice, as well as a commercial real estate owner and landlord. When her husband Scott passed away, Mary was thrust into taking over their combined businesses all while balancing them with single motherhood. Listen in as Mary shares what helped change the trajectory of her grief and allowed her to focus on her mission, establish an excellent t...

On this episode, J.P. Lopez shares the value of gaining experience outside a family business, how starting at the bottom and working every job on the way up contributes to a successful executive position, and how to maintain a healthy relationship with your brother while sharing leadership roles in the same company. John Patrick Lopez is the Chief Operating Officer of Lopez Foods, promoted in 2016...

Anthony Wonderly was only 18 years old when he made his first investment into real estate with his brother, Chandler. Today, Olympus Properties spans 10 states and has just under 500 team members—all of whom are treated by the Wonderlys as family. In fact, at Olympus, the phrase “Corporate Takeover” means the top execs come and do YOUR job for a week! Listen in as Anthony describes how he and Chan...

On this episode, Brad & Kristy describe how they work together to keep their businesses prosperous and their family life flourishing through the daily challenges and opportunities of working side by side. Kristy also shares some valuable insight regarding how, as a single mom before meeting Brad, she managed her business and cared for her young daughters. Brad and Kristy Allen own and operate...

George McMahon was working for someone else when he took an idea that would grow the company to its leadership. They were not interested. That’s when George decided to take a risk—to pursue his idea and start his own company, with nothing more than his confidence in his idea and his ability to make it work, and a strong work ethic. Listen in as George describes how in just 10 short years he turned...

On this episode, John C. Lopez shares how he turned his role in a Latino community economic development program into an opportunity to become an established McDonald’s franchisee before changing tracks in his 50s to become a premiere supplier to the nation’s largest quick-service restaurant system. John C. Lopez is a successful entrepreneur who rose from modest beginnings in Glendale, Ariz., to be...