Marketing Moves

AI is transforming cybersecurity faster than most businesses can keep up. But according to Tony Pietrocola, the companies that succeed won't be the ones creating the most fear. They'll be the ones building trust, embracing AI responsibly, and never losing the human element. In this episode of Marketing Moves, host Ashtyn Morris sits down with Tony Pietrocola, Co-Founder and President of AgileBlue,...

AI is moving fast. But according to healthcare technology veteran John Paganini, the organizations that win won't be the ones chasing every new tool. They'll be the ones using AI to solve real business problems while keeping humans at the center of every decision. In this episode of Marketing Moves, host Ashtyn Morris sits down with John Paganini, President of Paguar Informatics and Co-Chair of th...

Marous Brothers doesn't market like most companies. No complicated funnels. No massive ad budgets. No endless performance marketing experiments. Instead, they've spent 46 years building one of the Midwest's most respected construction brands through reputation, relationships, storytelling, and yes, construction site signage. In this episode of Marketing Moves, host Ashtyn Morris sits down with Joe...

Most companies don't need a full-time CMO. They need the right one, part of the time. In this episode of Marketing Moves, host Ashtyn Morris (VividFront) sits down with Aurora Toth, Area Managing Partner & Fractional CMO at Chief Outsiders, one of the nation's leading on-demand executive growth firms to unpack what it actually takes to walk into a stuck company and walk out with a growth story. In...

Rob Reznick (Beacon) and Anees Pretorius (Bean AI) walked away from San Francisco to build referral infrastructure and AI-powered accounting software right here in the Midwest, and they're not looking back. What happens when two founders, one building referral infrastructure, the other reimagining accounting with AI, both bet on Cleveland? In this episode of Marketing Moves, host Ashtyn Morris (Vi...

There's a med spa on every corner. So how does one brand rise above the noise, earn 1 million+ patients, and maintain a a near 5-star satisfaction rating across 15 locations, all while keeping clinical credibility intact? In this episode of Marketing Moves, host Ashtyn Morris (VividFront) sits down with Ruth Barnum, VP of Marketing & Aesthetics, and Johanna Maas, Director of Marketing at Apex Skin...

What happens when a political science grad with a construction background gets handed the keys to a data center? You get one of Cleveland's most fascinating business stories. In this episode of Marketing Moves, host Ashtyn Morris (VividFront) sits down with Kevin Goodman, Managing Director and Partner at Blue Bridge Networks, a Cleveland-based data center, managed IT, cloud computing, and cybersec...

Giovanna Knudsen didn't follow the playbook. She rewrote it. After ditching a veterinary career in college, Giovanna bet on herself opening a boutique fitness studio in the middle of a pandemic with a signed lease and a world shutting down around her. Six years later, she's running two businesses, curating a 15,000 sq ft wellness hub with 12 women-owned businesses under one roof, and building one...

Mike Linton didn't stumble into the C-suite. He earned his way there across five CMO roles — Best Buy, eBay, Farmers Insurance, Ancestry, and more, by treating marketing as a growth engine, not a line item, and by learning the hard lessons early. From washing clothes in P&G training programs to negotiating with the Rolling Stones in Amsterdam (without a signed contract), Mike has seen it all. And...

Jeff didn't set out to build a viral candy brand. What started as late-night cooking sessions in college, during COVID, while working full-time, slowly became something much bigger: a real business rooted in craft, community, and genuine storytelling. Instead of chasing trends or running ads, Jeff leaned into the process. He showed people how candy is made, shared the mistakes along the way (inclu...

Zero Doubt Club didn’t set out to be just another fitness brand. What started as personal training and health coaching quickly evolved into a full ecosystem designed to make healthy living simple, sustainable, and actually doable. Instead of overcomplicating fitness and nutrition, they built two complementary brands: Zero Doubt Club, focused on coaching and accountability, and Zero Doubt Kitchen,...

Brent Zimmerman didn't take the typical path into craft beer. After years in finance on Wall Street, he walked away from an investment opportunity in 2013, and decided to build his own brewery instead. What followed is one of Cleveland's most interesting brand-building stories: Saucy Brew Works, launched in Hingetown in 2017, has grown into a multi-location hospitality company through organic grow...

How does a home services startup go from $0 to $170 million in just three years? In this episode of Marketing Moves, host Ashtyn Morris sits down with AJ Wadian and Vince Venditti of Premier Home Pros to break down the exact marketing and lead generation strategy behind one of the fastest-growing home services companies in the country. 📈 Year One: $15 Million 📈 Year Two: $86 Million 📈 Year Thre...

In this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Josiah Myers, Founder & CEO of Spilt Social, to explore how he’s building one of the Midwest’s fastest-growing event communities. What started as a simple idea to create more authentic networking experiences has grown into a movement, with 7,500+ email subscribers, sold-out events, and expansion into new cities. Josiah shares how mentorship, ref...

On this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Abbas Mandviwala, physician, entrepreneur, and managing partner behind Encore, a cocktail bar in the heart of Playhouse Square. Abbas shares the story behind building a hospitality concept designed for the 1.3 million people who visit the district each year, and how thoughtful design, branding, and experience came together to create something un...

On this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Jerry Schill, President & CEO of Schill Grounds Management, to talk about scaling a service business from a 10x20 storage unit to 37 locations across multiple states and Canada. Jerry shares what it takes to grow through acquisitions, transition into commercial maintenance, and build a people-first culture that can withstand rapid change. If you...

On this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Anthony Manna Jr., President of Hello Sunray, and Vice President of M7 Ventures, to explore disciplined entrepreneurship, diversification strategy, and the rise of Hello Sunray. Anthony shares why market feedback matters more than assumptions, how M7 Ventures stabilizes growth through diversified investments, and why rising power costs are drivi...

On this special 100th episode of Marketing Moves, we’re turning the mic around and sitting down with our own host, Ashtyn Morris. From her unexpected path into marketing to building Marketing Moves into an award-winning podcast and brand growth engine for VividFront, Ashtyn reflects on the journey behind the show. We dive into her approach to authentic storytelling, guest prep, and balancing multi...

In this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Adam Zuccaro, longtime agency leader, to explore how marketing teams can balance data, technology, and human creativity in a rapidly evolving landscape. From the role agencies play today to the rise of AI tools reshaping workflows, Adam shares why the most effective campaigns still rely on human insight and storytelling. We also dive into what d...

In this episode of Marketing Moves, we sit down with DJ Eidson, President and co-founder of Limitless Minds, to unpack how elite sports mental conditioning has been translated into a powerful framework for business performance. DJ shares the principles behind neutral thinking, why mindset is the true performance multiplier, and how focusing on the “middle” of teams can elevate overall results. We...

In this episode of Marketing Moves, we sit down with Scott Hernandez, founder of Hernandez Building Corporation, to discuss his journey from bankruptcy and $50 repair jobs to leading a construction firm with a $150M bond limit. Scott shares how mentorship, trust, and integrity shaped his company’s national growth, renovating 150 projects across 25 states, while staying true to his values. We also...

In this episode of Marketing Moves, we chat with Jarred Smith, co-founder of Nooma, the clean sports drink brand redefining hydration. Founded in 2014, Nooma set out to create a better-for-you alternative to traditional sports drinks, made with organic, plant-based ingredients and no added sugar. Jarred shares how the brand evolved from retail shelves to a thriving direct-to-consumer model, built...

In this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Elisabeth Sapell, founder of All City Candy, to explore how she turned her lifelong love of sweets into a thriving business and beloved local brand. From opening her first shop to navigating supply chain challenges, Elisabeth shares how creativity, community, and customer experience have shaped All City Candy’s success. She discusses the evoluti...

On this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Michael Sirpilla, co-founder and CEO of Society Brands to unpack their founder-first acquisition model and how it’s redefining the way challenger brands scale. Michael explains why Society Brands keeps founders in the driver’s seat post-acquisition, the importance of shared services in accelerating growth, and how quarterly masterminds create a...

On this episode of Marketing Moves, we sat down with Andrew Lix, National Sales Director, and Johanna Barnowski, Marketing Manager at Cleveland Whiskey. Known for pushing boundaries, Cleveland Whiskey blends tradition, science, and creativity to craft award-winning spirits that stand out in a crowded market. Andrew and Johanna share the company’s journey from its family roots to national distribut...