Brand in the Making by ThinkTank Thought Leadership

Founder Tricia Mulder of River City Grant Writing joins Brand in the Making to share how she helps nonprofits turn passion into sustainable impact. She explains why structure, collaboration, and humility matter as much as heart — and how staying true to mission can make Michigan a home for everyone. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome + Meet Tricia Mulder of River City Grant Writing  (02:10) From Finance to...

Carla Flanders, founder of CMF Marketing and Events, shares her journey of entrepreneurship in West Michigan, from creating large-scale community events to launching her own children’s book. Carla talks about balancing visionary thinking with execution, the importance of trying new things, and the inspiration behind On the Day You Graduate . Plus, hear about her exciting upcoming project—Girlfrien...

Greg Austic and Dan TerAvest, co-founders of Our-Sci, share how they’re transforming agricultural research and technology by empowering communities instead of imposing top-down solutions. From handheld tools that measure food nutrition to software platforms that let farmers control their data, this episode explores regenerative agriculture, farmer-driven innovation, and the future of agtech that p...

Anthony Bison, leadership and influence coach and owner of Anony's Asphalt, shares his journey of starting a business from less than $1,000, surviving early challenges, and growing into a leader who inspires others. From managing teams in the heat of asphalt work to building a lasting legacy of mentorship, Anthony reveals hard-won lessons on leadership, faith, and scaling a business beyond just "o...

Owen VanEck, CEO of ADAS Find, shares how his family’s long history in auto repair led him to create a platform that simplifies calibrations for modern vehicles. From estimator to ADAS technician to software founder, Owen reveals how he turned real industry frustrations into a fast-growing tech solution and what’s next for innovation in diagnostics. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Owen’s Backgroun...

Jim Vinoski, longtime manufacturing leader and Forbes contributor, shares insights from 30+ years in the industry. From writing 300+ articles to running his own manufacturing podcast, Jim discusses the challenges of reshoring, Michigan’s role in tech and innovation, and why finance and supply chains need rethinking to revitalize American industry. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Jim’s Manufacturin...

Dan Mikita, founder of Devs Operative, joins us to discuss how enterprises can make AI practical and cost-efficient. From Kubernetes optimization to Intel’s surprising take on Nvidia’s dominance, Dan explains how local enterprises can build scalable AI platforms in-house—without breaking their data centers or budgets. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Dan’s Journey into Tech (04:20) From Enterprise...

Shaw Cash of Insperity joins us to share his journey from retail and banking into HR and how he’s helping West Michigan businesses scale with people-first leadership. Sean explains why HR can’t wait until later, how outsourcing HR empowers rather than replaces in-house teams, and how Insperity helps small and mid-sized companies “punch above their weight” with Fortune 500-level benefits and suppor...

Curt Kuiper and Rob Monacelli from HUMN dive into how businesses can use human-centered design and StoryBrand frameworks to create marketing strategies that truly connect with customers. They share how to shift from self-focused messaging to solving real customer problems, develop a strong brand script, and align marketing and sales for scalable growth. Chapters: (00:00) Introduction to Human-Cent...

Marissa Fellows, founder of Great Lakes Tinned Fish, shares how a date night sparked the idea for the Midwest’s first tinned fish company. From Lisbon inspiration to building a supply chain with no local canneries, Marissa’s journey is packed with creativity, tenacity, and unexpected mentorship that helped turn a dream into reality. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Marissa’s Origin Story (03:40) Th...

Mark Johnson, co-founder of Michigan Software Labs, talks about sparking innovation in leaders, emerging AI tools reshaping business, and how automation and custom software are transforming industries. From his TED Talk to spotting game-changing startups at South by Southwest, Mark shares insights on trust, technology adoption, and why relationships still matter in a digital-first world. Chapters:...

Tami Barnes, HR Director at Belt Power, reveals how companies can boost retention and performance by focusing on employees’ natural strengths. From teaching kids early about their “superpowers” to creating learning pathways for adults, Tami shares her fresh take on HR, employee engagement, and how businesses can truly win by helping their people thrive. Chapters: (00:00) Tami’s Journey to HR Leade...

Elliot Parker, CEO of Alloy Partners, shares the story of Woodchuck AI—a Michigan startup transforming wood waste into clean electricity. Elliot explains how his venture studio teams up with corporations to launch “advantaged startups,” why big companies struggle with true innovation, and how running fast, weird experiments creates breakthroughs. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Elliot’s Role at Al...

Rohan Repale, Senior Product Manager at Harman, shares how he’s shaping the future of the digital cockpit in cars—from simplifying complex tech for safer driving to developing head-up displays that project critical info directly onto the road. He also explores AI’s role in personalization, the path to full autonomy, and why saying “no” is key to building better automotive products. Chapters: (00:0...

Keith Elder, CEO of the Grand Rapids Symphony, shares how innovation, risk-taking, and community connection are keeping classical music alive and thriving. From orchestras collaborating with hip-hop artists to Beethoven in a ballpark during COVID, Keith reveals the bold moves redefining what a symphony can be—and why music is essential for healing and unity in every community. Chapters: (00:00) Fr...

John Vandervest, co-founder of Decimal Code, shares how an internal research project at Michigan Medicine turned into a startup revolutionizing medical billing with AI. From discovering massive revenue leaks to navigating long healthcare sales cycles and joining Techstars, John reveals the scrappy journey of bringing AI-powered accuracy to one of the most complex industries. Chapters: (00:00) Welc...

Chris Randall left a safe corporate job and, without a degree, launched Sweep LLC—an on-demand cleaning platform that makes booking a cleaner as easy as ordering pizza. From surviving a pandemic launch to creating a transparent, gamified marketplace for cleaners, Chris shares how he’s transforming home services and giving cleaners the respect and earning power they deserve. Chapters: (00:00) How S...

Brano Vargic shares how Talent Square is disrupting hiring with a platform he calls the “Shopify for job ads.” In just eight minutes, anyone can launch a fully-optimized recruitment campaign—no marketing expertise needed. Brano also opens up about his entrepreneurial journey, from container homes for glamping to the barefoot shoe movement, and how his global experience is fueling innovation in tal...

Ryan Gajewski of Truscott Rossman reveals how public relations is evolving in a world of shrinking newsrooms, fast-moving tech, and AI-driven search. From storytelling vs. spin to why every piece of media is “earned,” Ryan shares bold takes on reputation, content, and leading PR strategy in today’s attention economy. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Introduction (01:35) From Film School to PR Leade...

After 25+ years in executive roles, Scott Hays hit reset. In this raw and unfiltered conversation, Scott shares what it’s really like to leave corporate life behind, battle imposter syndrome, and start fresh as an entrepreneur. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s too late to reinvent yourself—this episode is your answer. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Introduction (01:20) What Predictive Index R...

Jonathan and Lauren flip the script to share the untold story of Think Tank and how Brand in the Making was born. From spontaneous podcast ideas to inspiring founder stories, they reveal why every leader is a brand in progress—and how this series aims to capture the raw, real process of building something that matters. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Table-Turning Banter (02:10) What Is Think Tank...

What really happens to your old devices? George Mitri of 2DaLoop exposes the shocking truth behind tech waste—from silver bricks to abandoned servers—and shares how his startup is reinventing the supply chain through circular economy models and material reclamation. This episode will change how you think about sustainability and your role in solving e-waste. Chapters: (00:00) Welcome & Meet Ge...

Tej Yale shares how he built Think Impact on the belief that relationships come before transactions. From launching a full-service marketing firm straight out of his MBA to integrating AI tools and starting a nonprofit, Tej breaks down his 50/50 content strategy, his favorite campaign win, and what he sees coming next in digital marketing. Chapters: (00:00) Meet Tej Yale and Think Impact (03:42) S...

Ken Bogard and Grace Gavin dive deep into what real communication looks like in leadership. They share the emotional backstory behind Know Honesty , explain why “brutal honesty” is the wrong goal, and introduce a better path: 100% honesty paired with 100% openness. Plus, they break down how to deliver feedback with love, not fear. Chapters: (00:00) Meet the Authors Behind Know Honesty (03:15) The...

Chelsea Hartner opens up about her leap from corporate marketing to building a life rooted in creativity and authenticity. She shares the mindset shift that helped her stop chasing external success and start designing a brand that actually feels like her. If you’ve ever felt stuck in someone else’s version of success, this one’s for you. Chapters: (00:00) Leaving Corporate to Find Freedom (03:12)...