From the Ground Up: The Podcast for Entrepreneurs

A 3am bakery route, a first real estate deal at 18, a tanning salon built on a gut call, and then the bold move: sell it all to go all-in on early childhood education. Richie Huffman, founder of Celebree, joins us to unpack the real story behind building a preschool business that scales, then turning it into a fast-growing franchise with schools across the country. If you care about entrepreneursh...

What if you fell off a cliff in Congo? What if you needed an organ to save your life? These are the real-world problems solved by businesses built on precision logistics and flawless execution. Don Jones built multiple life-saving businesses in emergency medical transport and organ transportation, creating companies where perfect execution was non-negotiable and logistics were hyper-complex. His s...

What if plastic could disappear in just 8 weeks instead of 1,000 years? That's the revolutionary promise behind Plant Switch, a company transforming how we think about sustainable materials. Dillon Baxter, founder of PlantSwitch, walks us through his experience  creating a truly biodegradable alternative to plastic that doesn't compromise on performance or break the bank. Unlike those dr...

Imagine transforming bare dirt into one of America's most prestigious golf destinations. Dennis Satyshur helped do exactly that at Caves Valley Golf Club, and his journey exemplifies entrepreneurial vision in an unexpected setting. When Satyshur first interviewed at Caves Valley in 1990, the "club" consisted of a trailer on empty land. Taking a career-defining risk at age 40, he lef...

What if the most valuable AI companies of the next decade haven't even been founded yet? While everyone's talking about ChatGPT and large language models, the real revolution lies ahead in the applications built on this infrastructure, just as Uber transformed transportation by building on mobile technology. Paul Palmieri, founder of Grit Capital Partners and former founder of unicorn co...

What happens behind the scenes when you pick up your prescription? Cory Easton pulls back the curtain on pharmacy benefits managemen, healthcare's complex middleman industry that determines what you and your employer pay for medications. In this conversation, Cory shares his remarkable journey from being employee #500 at Express Scripts to watching it grow to 35,000 employees managing $110 bi...

Guest: Dee Anna Sobczak, Founder of ThinkBig Networks Host: Leo Kelly, CEO of Verdence Capital Advisors In this episode of From the Ground Up, we sit down with Dee Anna Sobczak, the visionary behind ThinkBig Networks, a company transforming broadband infrastructure by bringing high-speed fiber internet to underserved communities. Unlike traditional internet providers, ThinkBig Networks focuses on...

What does it take to turn an idea at your kitchen table into a multi-billion-dollar success? In this episode of From the Ground Up, Leo Kelly sits down with Mary Ann Scully—founder and former CEO of Howard Bank and Dean of Loyola’s Sellinger School of Business—to reflect on her incredible journey. Throughout her 40-year career, Mary Ann navigated complex challenges like the financial crisis with r...

Chris Brandenburg has been at the forefront of tech innovation, leading startups through the evolution of building, growing, and then transitioning from a private to a public company. You’ll hear stories about how he and his business partner, Paul, tackled mobile technology before smartphones dominated the scene and how they approached app development and monetization when it was still uncharted t...

Ever wondered how someone could shift from crunching numbers as an accountant to becoming a leading figure in financial advisor recruiting? Mindy Diamond, CEO of Diamond Consultants, shares her extraordinary journey in this episode. From starting her business on her bedroom floor to managing more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in assets, Mindy's story is a testament to resilience and in...

What if you could create a thriving business and then seamlessly transition into a life of philanthropy? Join us as we uncover the remarkable journey of Rick Bastinelli, the founder and former president and CEO of Centric Business Systems. Growing up in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, Rick learned the ropes of management from his father and navigated the challenges of a declining garment industry. A chan...

What does it take to leave a stable corporate job and dive headfirst into the uncertain world of entrepreneurship? Join us as Kevin Powderly shares his incredible journey from working under the legendary Jack Welch at GE to co-founding his own company, CyberCore. Growing up in a big Irish family on Long Island, Kevin's competitive spirit was shaped by his early experiences and honed during hi...

In this episode of "From the Ground Up," we feature the fascinating story of Guy Filippelli, Managing Partner of Squadra Ventures. Guy describes his experiences from a military intelligence officer to a successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist. He provides a unique perspective on guiding startups, drawing from his time at West Point and Oxford and his commitment to being a leader w...

Join us for a chat with Joe Jankowski from Armatus Dealer Uplift. He shares a compelling story about owning a thriving auto dealership and then reshaping warranty reimbursement for dealers nationwide.  Joe emphasizes the power of innovative thinking and unwavering perseverance. Hear how he went from running a successful, profitable dealership to the gut-wrenching moment of closing its doors overni...

Stepping off a predictable path requires resilience, vision, and good old-fashioned grit. Steve Shaw, owner and founder of Shaw Real Estate, shares his story from a comfortable career at Merritt Properties to entrepreneurship. He explains the method behind his 'old man's portfolio,' his investment in industrial properties that thrive amid fluctuating interest rates. https://youtu.be...

In the first conversation, host Leo Kelly, CEO of Verdence Capital Advisors, talks with Michele Welsh, Chief Marketing Officer at Verdence, about the inspiration behind starting this entrepreneurial podcast. Leo and Michele briefly discuss Leo's journey from working at Merrill Lynch to breaking off on his own to start an independent wealth management firm, overcoming challenges and risks. The...