Simply Business Podcast

In this episode of Simply Business , we sit down with Jesse Bray, CEO of Quantum Enterprises, to talk about what it really looks like to step into ownership of an existing business. This isn’t a startup story — it’s something different. Jesse shares his experience of acquiring a company he was already familiar with — and how quickly things change when the responsibility becomes yours. We dive into...

What does it really take to leave corporate life and build something of your own? In this episode of Simply Business , John Jennings sits down with Doug Gardner , owner of City Wide Facility Solutions of Louisville , to talk about entrepreneurship, calculated risk, and the realities of building a company over the long haul. Doug shares his journey from finance and medical sales into business owner...

Have you ever looked up in June or July and thought, "We've been busy this year... but what have we actually accomplished?" In this solo episode of Simply Business, John Jennings explores a challenge that many business owners and leadership teams face at the halfway point of the year: mistaking activity for momentum. Most organizations begin the year with clear goals and a focused strategy. But as...

What happens when an entrepreneur leaves the corporate technology world and joins a family business dedicated to caring for seniors? In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Marcus O'Malley, Owner and Director of Caring Excellence Northern Kentucky. Marcus shares his journey from software development and corporate leadership into the world of senior home care, where he now...

What if therapy wasn’t about fixing people—but helping them become mentally stronger? In this episode of Simply Business , John Jennings sits down with Chris Morandi , Co-Founder and Executive Director of Mainspring Wellness , to explore the intersection of entrepreneurship, mental health, and community impact. Chris shares how Mainspring evolved from an early side project into a growing wellness-...

In this episode of Simply Business , we sit down with Lauren Brown, co-owner of Mishalis Events, to talk about what it really looks like to build and sustain a business over time. What started as a retail food and wine store evolved — through necessity, market shifts, and major disruptions like 9/11 and COVID — into one of Kentucky’s only full-service event production companies. Lauren shares how...

In this episode of Simply Business , we sit down with Vas Abramov, President of Occam Design, to talk about a principle that’s often overlooked in business — simplicity. Vas shares how his approach to business and design is rooted in cutting through complexity and focusing on what actually works. Rather than overbuilding or overthinking, he emphasizes learning through experience and refining syste...

What does it look like to build a business that creates both profit and purpose? In this episode of Simply Business , John Jennings sits down with Kurt Reynolds, Owner and President of ReGadget, to explore how a $7,000 bet on a personal credit card turned into a fast-growing company making a real difference. ReGadget is on a mission to keep technology out of landfills and into the hands of people...

In the 103rd episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Paul Howland Miller, the self-described Chief Goof Officer behind Circus Sweets and Bircus Brewing Company. Paul has spent his career living inside the world of the circus performing, creating, and building businesses around one simple idea: doing what others think is impossible. From balloon animals and global circus tours to l...

In the 102nd episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Mike Mason, President of Lawn Pro in Louisville, Kentucky, to unpack what 30 years in business has taught him about leadership, growth, and integrity. Mike shares the story of joining the family business in the mid-90s, taking over operations, and ultimately purchasing the company in March 2020 right as the world shut down. What...

What does it look like to intentionally build young leaders inside your company? In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Steve Hall, President of M&P Logistics, to explore how faith, mentorship, and transparency shape a thriving culture. After decades in transportation including starting, scaling, and selling a trucking company Steve returned to business with a deeper...

Episode 100 of the Simply Business podcast marks a major milestone and a moment to pause, reflect, and simplify. In this solo episode, host and business coach John Jennings looks back on the journey of recording nearly 100 conversations with business owners. Along the way, he’s collected countless lessons about leadership, resilience, and what it really takes to build a business. To celebrate the...

What happens when you finally act on the idea you’ve carried for years? In the 99th episode of Simply Business , John Jennings sits down with Derek Shelton , Owner and Provider at Optimize You in Evansville (now Newburgh), Indiana. With over 20 years of experience as a nurse practitioner and leadership experience as a Chief Operating Officer in orthopedics, Derek shares how COVID accelerated innov...

In the 98th episode of Simply Business, we sit down with Scott Noonan , President at Spear AI Analytics, for a powerful conversation about ownership, resilience, and the leadership advantage hidden inside your personal story. Too often, leaders carry silent narratives past setbacks, failures, missed opportunities that quietly shape their decisions. But what if those same experiences are the founda...

In the 97th episode of Simply Business, we explore what it really takes to lead effectively in complex environments without becoming overwhelmed or overcomplicating the journey. Our guest shares practical insights on how clarity, personal responsibility, and disciplined thinking drive sustainable growth in business and leadership. Instead of chasing complexity, we dive into the power of simplifyin...

In the 96th episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Neil Young, President of Two Ladders, to explore what it really means to build a business that lasts. Eleven years in, Two Ladders still feels like a startup and that’s no accident. Neil shares how the company evolved from a traditional marketing agency into a business focused on uncovering the operational truths that market...

In the 95th episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Dan Ratterman, Co-Founder and CEO of Shady Rays, to unpack how a simple idea turned into a powerful brand. Dan shares the founding story behind Shady Rays identifying a gap in the market where sunglasses were either overpriced or disposable, and choosing to build something better by focusing on real customer behavior. This c...

In the 94th episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Eric Lowe, Co-Founder and CEO of Aptiva Health, to explore how one company is redesigning healthcare around people not systems. Eric shares the story of how Aptiva grew from a single practice in Lexington, Kentucky, into a multi-location, multi-specialty healthcare group. Their model brings orthopedic, MSK, concussion care,...

What if powering an intelligent building was as simple as running speaker wire? In the 93rd episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Matt Laherty of Cinch IoT, a company building a two-wire, low-voltage intelligent building platform that powers and connects lighting, sensors, air quality monitoring, people counting, and more — all over a simple, safe cable. Matt shares his unc...

In the 92nd episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Sheri Darby, President of Walker Mechanical, to unpack what it really takes to step into the top seat, turn around a struggling business, and lead in a male-dominated industry. Sheri shares how she moved from CFO to President inside an employee-owned (ESOP) mechanical contracting firm and why she walked into the boardroom du...

What happens when you stop treating patients as isolated individuals and start caring for entire families in their homes, especially those on Medicaid? In the 91st episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Mike Meador, Chief Financial Officer of Nest Health, a home-based primary care company serving lower-income families in Louisiana and Arizona. Mike shares how Nest Health is build...

This week on the Simply Business podcast, host John Jennings is joined by Mark Lewis, Founder and CEO of Advanced Business Solutions (ABS) the largest IT services provider in the Louisville region. Mark shares the remarkable 30-year journey of ABS, from humble beginnings to a team of 120 employees and over $20 million in revenue. Hear how his leadership style evolved from doing it all himself to e...

In this Simply Business conversation, host John Jennings sits down with Jamie (James) Fender, Partner at Grimes Pools in Bloomington, Indiana . Jamie shares how a third-generation family business has sustained momentum for 50+ years moving from a franchise “kit pool” start to a full-service, white-glove operation. You’ll hear how Jamie earned trust by listening first, learning the craft (even hand...

Business owners call lawyers most often after a problem explodes contracts go sideways, terminations go wrong, partners fall out. In this episode, Kevin Eddins, Co-founder and Partner at Eddins Dominion Law Group in Louisville/St. Matthews, explains why the smartest move is proactive counsel on the front end when it’s cheaper, calmer, and far more controllable. Kevin shares how he grew from associ...

In the 87th episode of Simply Business, I sit down with Jeremy Esposito, Partner and Owner of Esposito Construction, a third-generation home building and remodeling company serving Louisville and Oldham County. Jeremy shares what it means to lead a family business with deep community roots balancing tradition with growth, weathering the challenges of construction, and finding ways to give back bey...