Fireside Chats: Behind The Build

Christopher Mallery spent years managing bustling restaurant teams before shifting gears to help business owners reclaim their time and sanity. As the founder of Top2Bottom Business Solutions, he now supports small businesses and franchises with clean financials, smoother operations, and smarter decision-making. In this conversation, Christopher and Curtis talk candidly about turnover, leadership...

On this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Shawn Gulyas, founder of humanworks8, to discuss how organizations can elevate their culture by focusing on people first. Shawn introduces the eight truths that anchor his work, offering practical ways leaders can align values, strengthen performance, and simplify culture-building. The conversation also touches on the role of techno...

In this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with Ali Kraus, CFE and Chief Marketing Officer at Benetrends Financial, to explore her journey from autism educator to franchise industry leader. Alishares how her passion for people, culture, and community fuels both her marketing career and her nonprofit, Furry Frans, which brings comfort to children in crisis. She opens up about navi...

Kate Halfwassen spent years leading organizations through transformation before teaming up with her husband to co-found their boutique consultancy. Together, they help businesses sharpen their focus, align their teams, and pursue ambitious growth goals. Kate joins Curtis to discuss what it’s really like to mix marriage and entrepreneurship, how family values shape their client work, and why leadin...

Curtis sits down with Rachel Aleknavicius to explore how Nava is reshaping the benefits landscape. From tackling outdated brokerage practices to creating AI-driven tools that simplify HR’s toughest challenges, Rachel sheds light on how benefits can transform from a source of frustration into a competitive advantage. She also shares why listening, transparency, and pushing back on “the way it’s alw...

In this episode of Behind the Build , Curtis Forbes sits down with Meghan Focht, Human Capital Director at Concurrency, to explore the intersection of people, culture, and technology. With over 15 years of HR leadership across industries, Meghan shares candid insights on guiding organizations through digital transformation, from embracing AI tools to managing cultural resistance and fostering psyc...

In this episode of Behind the Build, host Curtis Forbes chats with Kim Walters, founder of Yes…And, LLC and cultural engagement specialist. With a background in education, leadership, and consulting, Kim shares how her journey — from teaching literacy to guiding organizations through cultural assessments — shaped her mission to help leaders “close the gaps.” Together, they explore how trust, belon...

Curtis sits down with Christine Devane, CEO and founder of Brightfin, to talk about her path from English major and pie maker to fintech entrepreneur. Christine shares how her own money lessons shaped Brightfin’s simple, swipe-based budgeting app, why features like “Debt Crusher” and “YOLO” resonate with users, and how employers can play a bigger role in supporting financial wellness. She also ref...

Change doesn’t have to mean burnout or disengagement. In this episode of Behind the Build , Curtis Forbes talks with consultant and educator Summer Miller about why real growth starts with people, not processes. From her journey in jazz composition to leading people-centered consulting, Summer shares why curiosity, critical thinking, and two-way communication are the keys to thriving workplaces an...

In the second part of this two-part series, Curtis and Travis dive deeper into leadership, company culture, and what it really takes to scale an agency without losing sight of your values. Travis reflects on the challenges of moving from designer to CEO, how to build trust within teams, and why authenticity matters more than ever in today’s market. Packed with honest lessons and practical takeaway...

Curtis Forbes sits down with Travis McAshan, founder of Glide Design, to explore how design can do more than just look good: it can change businesses. Travis shares his journey from freelance creative to building a respected agency, opening up about the lessons learned along the way. From the importance of simplicity in branding to aligning design with strategy and purpose, Travis explains why gre...

In this episode of Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes sits down with O’Brien McMahon, Executive Vice President at Lockton and host of People Business. O’Brien shares his unique perspective on why every business is a people business—whether you’re running a global company or a neighborhood shop. From writing a children’s book inspired by leadership lessons, to helping hundreds of organizations shape t...

In this episode of Behind the Build , Curtis sits down with Rebecca Rizzio, founder of Luminous Talent, to explore the human side of recruiting and retention. With 25 years in sales, business development, and talent acquisition—and a surprising background in theater and film—Rebecca brings a unique perspective to building great workplaces. She shares why recruiting must be proactive (not just “pos...

In this second round of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build with Monique Jackson, Senior Director of People at Gusto, Curtis and Monique dig deeper into leadership, team building, and the human side of business. Monique shares how leaders can avoid common pitfalls around culture, inclusivity, and hiring, why curiosity and psychological safety fuel better ideas, and how to successfully manage and c...

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build , Curtis talks with Monique Jackson, Senior Director of People at Gusto, about building an engaged, inclusive, and connected workforce at scale. Monique shares how her path from accounting to people strategy fueled her passion for culture and community, and dives into initiatives like Gusto’s Total Rewards Survey, Community Building Framework,...

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build , Curtis Forbes sits down with Gabe Davis, Strategic Partner Manager at Cinch, to explore how thoughtful use of customer data can transform transactional moments into deeply personal experiences. Gabe shares his unconventional path into partnerships, how Cinch helps multi-location businesses clean up their data and build retention through smar...

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind The Build, Curtis sits down with Jared Porter, co-founder and COO of 401Go, to talk about the power of possibility… and retirement plans. Jared shares the journey of building a platform that brings accessible, automated 401(k) benefits to small businesses and the people who power them. From saving stories that changed lives to cultural shifts within tru...

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build , Curtis chats with Jenny Leman, President and EOS Integrator at CareerPlug, about building values-driven workplaces that actually work. Jenny walks us through her journey from healthcare to SaaS leadership, explains why hiring without knowing your "why" is a major red flag, and makes a bold claim: 90% of performance issues are rooted in core...

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build , Curtis sits down with Andrew Nielsen, General Counsel at MyHRCounsel, for a lively and enlightening conversation about the hidden pitfalls of HR law—and how to steer clear of them. Andrew shares his unconventional journey from pre-med to law, explains why FMLA is one of the most misunderstood areas in employment law, and gives practical advi...

Doug Rixmann knows a thing or two about putting out fires—whether it’s in his volunteer fire department or in the day-to-day chaos of multi-unit restaurant operations. In this candid chat, he shares how OwlOps evolved from a homemade fix for his family’s QSR business into a must-have tech tool for franchises of all sizes. If you’ve ever tried to manage a store with a broken ice machine again or a...

In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build, Curtis Forbes chats with Tevis Paxton, Director of Partner Development at HiringThing and veteran of the startup world. Tevis shares how a background in improv and a self-designed college major in "persuasion" laid the foundation for a thriving career in sales, partnerships, and go-to-market strategy. From the magic of white-label recruiting...

Many businesses leave money on the table, and Stephanie Cornejo and her colleagues at Corporate Tax Incentives know this all too well. This is also the case when examining the Human Resources department. HR doesn’t need to be the cost center most business leaders see it to be – once tax credits come into play. About Stephanie: Stephanie Cornejo is a talented, ambitious leader who heads CTI’s Credi...

In this insightful conversation, Curtis Forbes sits down with Elena Davis, the longtime HR leader at Bader Rutter, to explore what it truly takes to build a culture that lasts. With over two decades of experience, Elena shares her take on leading through generational divides, trauma-fatigued workforces, and the rise of AI, all while keeping humanity and empathy at the heart of it all. From employe...

What happens when a founder scales a franchise to 100+ locations in just five years—then hits a wall? In this episode of MustardHub Voices: Behind the Build , Curtis Forbes sits down with Landon Eckles, former founder of Clean Juice and now a professional EOS implementer, to unpack the journey from entrepreneurial chaos to organizational clarity. Landon shares how the Entrepreneurial Operating Sys...

The savings rate in the United States is alarmingly low, with some studies indicating that nearly a quarter of American households have no emergency savings, and a significantly larger percentage of US families lack sufficient funds to weather a financial crisis. These statistics are scary, but this is where Devin Miller and SecureSave come in. Join Curtis and Devin as they discuss the importance...