OUTdrive

Rural Americans and their operations are what keep the world running. Just like anyone else, these business owners, manufacturers and farmers need access to reliable internet, but many rural areas lack a reliable connection or wifi. GoNetspeed, a fiber internet provider formerly known as Otelco, is out to change that. In this episode, Rick Lashley, Director of Wireless Operations and Product Devel...

Here in Missouri, there's a MO adventure for every "M-O," outdoorsmen, art enthusiasts, history buffs, foodies, sports fanatics, and everyone in between. The Division of Tourism's "Find Your M-O" campaign is part of the state's marketing effort to attract visitors to Missouri. And those efforts are pretty important, considering they produce a 13.5 billion-dollar impact. As the Director of Tourism...

We are coming up on the best 11 days of the year - the Missouri State Fair. One of our favorite parts of the Fair is interacting with the partners and sponsors who make it all possible. In this episode, Cliff is joined by Family Center Farm and Home co-owner and regional director Blake Mills and marketing manager David Swearingen. When Family Center Farm and Home opened their Sedalia location, bec...

What makes a great marketer? Someone who is strategic? Yes. Detail-oriented? Absolutely. Asks good questions? Certainly! All of these skills are part of the equation, but they also need to be business savvy. A great marketer should be able to look at the client's business as a whole, see marketing as a piece of it, and then identify how it can better fit into the puzzle. In this episode of OUTdriv...

Investing in marketing is a self-fulfilling prophecy. History has shown that marketing works when done correctly. You can grow your business by increasing your investment in advertising, public relations, social media, and online. But it also works the other way. You can decrease your sales by lowering your investment. And if you keep cutting back over time, you might cut yourself right out of a j...

They say a dog is a man's best friend, but for some individuals, their dog is a lifeline. Right here in rural America, we are privileged to have a nationally recognized organization and facility dedicated to raising, training, and placing service dogs with people in need. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sits down with Kyle Cory-Yaeggi, Operations Director, and Laura Erganian, Fund Development C...

In today's world, you can get data on just about anything. This leads to many businesses drowning in reports of thousands of rows of numbers. At Callis, we like to say that "data without action is just trivia," meaning that unless you can do something with it, it's just a number. On this episode of OUTdrive, guest and business owner JJ Reynolds shares with us how his company, Mediauthentic, works...

In rural America, we do business with people we know, like and trust, especially with major purchases or services. Buying a home is typically one of the largest investments a person will make in their lifetime and it helps to know someone to be by your side throughout the process.  That's where the family team of Dave and Ryan Wiedeman have come to find success in the real estate market for over f...

When it comes to "branding," there is a lot of ambiguity. What is a brand? Can you measure how a brand works? How do you use it as part of a marketing plan? This is where our guest Karley Cunningham, business owner and branding strategist at Big Bold Brand, comes into play. In this episode, Karely offers up a paradigm shift and insightful perspective on how to approach branding as a way to define...

In honor of Memorial Day and the extra-long weekend, Cliff is sharing a bite-sized podcast with some practical business advice. At Callis, Cliff's team places an emphasis on education and professional development. One of the ways Callis accomplishes that is through involvement with the Agency Management Institute and by being part of a peer network.  Agency Management Institute (AMI) is a manageme...

Arrow Rock is a village in central Missouri with a total population of 37. And, each year, more than 33,000 patrons travel to this community to enjoy Broadway-caliber productions at the Lyceum Theatre. Celebrating its 61st season in 2022, the Lyceum is one of Missouri's oldest professional regional theatres. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sits down with Quin Gresham of the theatre's leadership...

While it may seem like the world of advertising is all headed toward the Metaverse, there is still value in traditional marketing. Radio, television, and newspaper, combined with digital components, can make an impact. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sits down with Aric Bremer to discuss how businesses can use a multichannel approach to reach their goals and objectives.  Aric is a sales manager...

To put it simply, the rural American lifestyle builds character. The people raised in rural America are often the ones who go on to feed, lead, and serve our country. Today's guest, Missouri Soy's CEO Gary Wheeler, has done all three. In his role, he continues to spearhead legislation and representation for Missouri's soybean farmers.  Wheeler has a Bachelor of Science in agriculture and a Master...

Happy 100th Episode! We're celebrating the big 1-0-0 with a very special episode of OUTdrive. This week, guest host Ivy Reynolds turns the mic around to interview our host, the founder and CEO of Callis, Cliff Callis. In this episode, listeners get an in-depth listen to Cliff's story, the origins of Callis, and life lessons from 35 years of business.  Cliff has over 35 years of experience and expe...

Small business owners have an inherent responsibility to be active and invested in their community. That's especially true for OUTdrive guest John Kehde, who took his passion and civic duty to the highest commitment, serving and eventually leading the local government for the city of Sedalia. In this episode, John takes listeners back in time, giving a guided history of the city of Sedalia, Kehde'...

Now more than ever, people are invested in where their food comes from. Those who frequent local farmers' markets have the luxury of knowing exactly where their food is grown and how it's raised, and they have a chance to connect with the people who produce it. In this episode, Cliff had the chance to sit down with Bonita Riley and her daughter Taylor, members of the family behind Back Yonder Farm...

There is no shortage of beef producers in Central Missouri, but Brook and Larry White of White Angus Ranch are doing things a little different: raising grass-finished beef. Unlike "grass-fed" beef, "grass-finished" means corn and grain are never part of the animal's diet,  resulting in a leaner product. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sits down with the Whites to learn more about their business...

Did you know that the produce in grocery stores travels an average of 1,500 miles before it ends up on your plate? Furthermore, the USDA estimates that on average, a farmer only earns 17.4 cents for every dollar spent on a food item. Compare these numbers to your local farmers' market, where the produce is grown within a 50-mile radius and the farmer or producer earns an average of 85 cents on eve...

Access to quality health care is at the core of a healthy community. Rural area hospitals play a vital role in attracting new families and businesses to small and mid-size cities. For this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sat down with Dr. Stuart Braverman to discuss the ins and outs, challenges, and rewards of being a health care provider in rural America.  Stu is a general surgeon in the private pract...

The Katy Trail State Park is the longest developed rail-trail in the country, spanning 240 miles between Clinton and Machens with 26 trailheads and four fully restored railroad depots along the way. Whether you are a bicyclist, walker, equestrian, nature lover or history buff, the trail offers opportunities for recreation, a place to enjoy nature and an avenue to discover the past. After spending...

Some of us chose our own paths in life. For others, the path is chosen for us. And if you're Rob Hughes, the senior minister at Broadway Church in Sedalia, Missouri, the path will call you to ministry after years of working in a completely unrelated career field. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sits down with Rob to talk about his unorthodox journey from the glitz of the West Coast film industr...

Community is defined as "a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals." A strong sense of community is part of what makes rural America a great place to live, work and raise a family. In this episode of OUTdrive,  local Mexican restaurant owner Cesar Marin shares the stories of the Marin and Perez families, who saw moving to Missouri and joinin...

Alternative energy solutions are a major point of discussion these days. One solution that is often overlooked is propane. Propane is being used across all industries to meet the need for a resilient, cleaner, greener energy solution, and the need for remote power where it isn't readily available. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff is joined by Joe Calhoun, the Director of Business Development for...

Entrepreneurship has evolved over the years, but one thing is for certain, the American Dream is still alive and well for those who are willing to work for it. In this episode of OUTdrive, Cliff sits down with business owner Russell Childers to learn more about what it takes to be successful in real estate development.  Russell is the president of RAC-JAC Properties Incorporated, which owns and ma...

Sports columnist Ben Frederickson returns to OUTdrive to chat about all things sports and writing. Ben shares his hot takes on Mizzou Basketball, the possible outcomes of the MLB lockout, and the Blue's chances at another playoff run. Cliff and Ben also dive a little deeper into storytelling, such as creating content for several multimedia platforms, using personas to reach consumers, and developi...