Simply Business Podcast

On the 62nd episode of Simply Business, John Jennings welcomes Stephanie Gilezan, CEO of Gilezan Global, for a powerful conversation on leadership, innovation, and staying true to your vision. In this episode, she shares how she balances multiple enterprises, challenges traditional norms, and leads with a powerful combination of grit and grace. Expect real talk, real strategies, and the kind of wi...

Meet Scott Boehnlein, Entrepreneur & Owner of Family Realty In the 61 episode of Simply Business , host John Jennings sits down with Scott Boehnlein, a self-made entrepreneur who built a thriving real estate company Family Realty from the ground up. Scott opens up about his journey, starting with early challenges in school, to becoming a resilient business owner committed to community and serv...

On the 60th episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings chats with Shannon Wickel a business owner whose journey is anything but typical. What started as a mom supporting her daughters in gymnastics turned into a leadership role at one of Kentucky’s most beloved training academies. Shannon shares how friendships, a love for children, and a willingness to say “yes” to new challenges led her to o...

In the 59th episode of Simply Business , host John Jennings sits down with Chris Gilbert , founder and president of Security Pros USA . After climbing the corporate ladder and running a $90 million P&L, Chris walked away from a lucrative career to be present with his family and to build something of his own. He shares how Security Pros started with one $25 a month client during the recession,...

In this inspiring 58th episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Cathe Dykstra, the powerhouse CEO of Family Scholar House and its organization, Family, Inc. What started as a struggling nonprofit serving just four individuals has grown into a nationwide support system impacting over 106,000 households across 48 states. Cathe shares how she used her economic background, not soc...

The 57th episode of Simply Business features a powerful founder story that’s as timely as it is moving. Michael Sandefur, co-founder of SafeEvac, shares how his journey from environmental consulting to inventing a school safety technology was driven by purpose and prayer. Following national tragedies and a conversation with his co-founder, Michael realized that chaos, not just violence is the kill...

How Brad Blankenship scaled a startup from the back of a truck into a regional commercial powerhouse by staying people-focused, faith-led, and future-minded. ⭐ Inspirational Snippet: “You have to be motivated by something greater than the dollar… You have to want to help people. You have to want to be a problem solver.” How do you grow a construction company from the back of a car to 80+ employee...

In the 55th episode of Simply Business, John sits down with Paula Blankenship, founder of a thriving DTC paint brand, to unpack her extraordinary entrepreneurial journey. From humble beginnings at her kitchen table to scaling into an 8-figure powerhouse, Paula shares how she transformed a simple DIY project into a multimillion-dollar enterprise. Discover how early Facebook traction validated her b...

In the 54th episode of Simply Business , host John Jennings sits down with David Galownia , CEO and Owner of Slingshot , a Louisville-based tech services firm that's celebrating 20 years in business. David shares his journey from youthful entrepreneur — running a paper route at age 10 — to leading a company that helps bring tech ideas to life for startups, small businesses, and large enterprises a...

In the 53 episode of Simply Business , host John Jennings sits down with Shawn Herbig , founder of IQS Research and Bluegrass Bitters , to explore two very different entrepreneurial journeys—one rooted in analytics, and the other in artisanal flavor. Shawn shares how he left a successful role at Ford Motor Company to chase a lifelong dream of business ownership. Over the past 25+ years, he’s built...

In the 52nd episode of Simply Business , John Jennings sits down with Bill Reynolds, President of Element 502, to explore the raw and real journey of turning around a struggling marketing agency. Bill opens up about how he went from a consultant to business owner overnight—after a leap of faith (and prayer) with his wife. He shares what happened when he lost his biggest client five days into owner...

In the 51 episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Brady Jolly, President and Owner of Jolly Plumbing Drains, Heating and Air. Brady shares the remarkable story of taking over his family business, founded in 1979, and transforming it into a thriving, multi-service home solutions company in Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. Brady discusses the challenges of leading a se...

In the 50th episode of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Larry Baker, a real estate broker, investor, and entrepreneur who has built a thriving business across Kentucky, Indiana, and Florida. Larry shares his journey from sales—starting in the car industry—to becoming a top real estate agent, broker, and investor. He now leads a brokerage with over 40 agents and has built long-ter...

In this inspiring episode 49 of Simply Business, host John Jennings welcomes Reverend Dr. Julie Hager Love, the President & CEO of the Kentucky United Methodist Children's Home. With a background in theology, Christian education, and leadership development, Dr. Love has dedicated her career to serving children and families in need. She shares insights on building trust in leadership, fostering...

In Episode 48 of Simply Business, host John Jennings sits down with Kyle Bush, Founder & CEO of Cumberland Creative, a 50+ award-winning video production and digital marketing agency. Kyle shares his entrepreneurial journey, how he built a scalable storytelling business, and what it takes to create high-impact visual content that drives real revenue growth. 💡 Key Themes Discussed: ✅ The powe...

In this episode of Simply Business , host John Jennings sits down with Clay Smith , a real estate investor and serial entrepreneur who has scaled multiple businesses from the ground up. Starting as a young entrepreneur selling candy bars and running a paper route, Clay evolved into a powerhouse in real estate, property management, and contracting. He shares insights on: ✅ The key challenges of sc...

In this episode of Simply Business , host John Jennings sits down with Doug Lacy , Founder and President of Pivotal , a global IT field services company operating in 150+ countries. Doug shares the remarkable journey of scaling an IT services business, transitioning from a handful of clients to working with Fortune 500 companies worldwide. Doug reveals key insights about: Overcoming the "founder’s...

In this episode of Simply Business , host John Jennings sits down with Geoff Marietta, an entrepreneur, small business owner, and community advocate based in Eastern Kentucky. Geoff shares his inspiring journey from Harvard MBA graduate to a transformative force in Appalachian revitalization. As the co-founder of businesses like the Harlan County Beer Company and Moonbow Tipple, Geoff is proving t...

In this episode of Simply Business , host John Jennings sits down with Ashley Chamberlain, MBA, founder and CEO of Chamberlain & Good Company Bookkeeping and Accounting Services. Ashley shares her inspiring journey from a high-level corporate CFO to building her own thriving business. Hear how her leap of faith, coupled with resilience, prayer, and a supportive network, led to a business that...

Are you ready for a masterclass in leadership and values-driven business? In this episode, you'll learn some of the best practices for building a business that will be both sustainable and successful. John Jennings sits down with Thomas Haun , President and Co-Founder of Turner Staffing Group , to explore the journey from building Turner Mining Group to creating a people-first staffing powerhouse....

In this episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with David Moore, Chief Operating Officer at PreventScripts, to uncover how his team is revolutionizing healthcare. With a background that bridges tech, data, and clinical care, David shares his journey from family business to nursing, and ultimately, to helping build a startup tackling healthcare at its core. David discusses how PreventS...

We are now 1 year into producing our Simply Business Podcast. The stories we've shared serve as a testament to the power of passion, innovation, resilience, and commitment in achieving success. What's next? More amazing stories. More encouragement. More learnings from the road.

In this episode of "Simply Business," host John Jennings talks with Tina Baxter, nurse practitioner and owner of Baxter Professional Services. Tina shares her unique journey from working in various healthcare settings to launching her own legal nurse consulting business and founding the Nurse Shark Academy. She discusses the importance of nurses stepping into entrepreneurship, helping them identif...

🎙️ What happens when a career curveball leads to an entrepreneurial home run? Meet Jaredith Mize, founder of Blue Shift Marketing, who turned an unexpected career shift into an opportunity to create something remarkable. In this episode of the Simply Business Podcast, host John Jennings dives into Jaredith’s journey from leaving a job to building a thriving marketing agency in Seymour, Indiana. Sp...

"There’s so much potential in every person, every place, and every property. You just have to see the possibility and leverage whatever skills and assets you have to make things bigger and better." — Gill Holland Episode Description: In this insightful episode of Simply Business, John Jennings sits down with Gill Holland, a visionary leader, and community developer renowned for his transformative...