The Achieve Podcast

In this episode, host Jessie Warner sits down with Derek Baird, co-founder and CEO of Switchboard Health, to discuss how his team is modernizing specialty care coordination and referral management making it easier for patients to access affordable, high-quality care while building a mission-driven healthcare startup. What You’ll Learn Why specialty care is often a “care wilderness,” and what it ta...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Mike Gange, founder and president of Summit Tech Partners, about how an IT services and staffing firm scales in a fast-changing market especially as AI reshapes recruiting, outreach, and how businesses think about productivity and competitive advantage. What You’ll Learn Why AI is creating a surge of opportunity across industries, and how service firm...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Austin Willman, a partnership manager and podcast host at Digital Web Solutions (DWS), to discuss what’s actually driving growth in a post-AI era balancing automation and efficiency with the human connection, strong systems, and disciplined execution. What You’ll Learn Why sustainable growth often comes more from retention and client experience tha...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Sid Sullivan, a longtime manufacturing executive and former president of AceCo Precision Manufacturing, about why the skilled trades matter more than ever and how leaders, educators, and communities can rebuild the talent pipeline while strengthening the culture inside trade-driven organizations. What You’ll Learn Why tradespeople are the critical lin...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Dave Bisbee, a leadership and organizational development coach with a professional golf background and co-author of Back on Course, to explore how golf-based experiences can unlock sharper leadership, stronger teams, and better business performance especially in times of rapid change. What You’ll Learn How experiential learning (like a golf environ...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker speaks with Chris Medina, CEO and founder of Nureal.ai, about how his team uses edge AI and computer vision to turn existing “non-smart” camera infrastructure into real-time intelligence for cities and other industries. The conversation explores practical use cases, the realities of building an early-stage AI company, and how NewReal.ai is scaling a repeatable mo...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Angie Noack, VP of Brain Code Centers, to discuss how her team helps people improve brain performance and mental wellness through data-driven neurofeedback and how they’ve scaled the business by expanding access through a hybrid, remote-friendly model. What You’ll Learn Why brain-based, measurement-driven care can help move beyond symptom managemen...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Joseph “Joe” Child, CEO and President of Presco Management and a longtime mortgage and real estate financing professional, to discuss how investor-focused lending businesses grow through market cycles and how tools like social media and AI are reshaping the competitive landscape. What You’ll Learn How post-2008 market shifts created openings for bu...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker speaks with Jim Thrall, owner of Twin Harbors Technology Solutions (and Rising Tide Computer), about building a community-first IT services business in rural Washington balancing managed services and retail support, embracing preventive cybersecurity, and using AI to sharpen positioning and marketing execution.ets. What You’ll Learn Why rising tech complexity and...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Ben Elkins, CEO of Utah Broadband and Airebeam Fiber Internet, to discuss how he’s scaling regional internet providers with a long-term ownership mindset, a disciplined approach to network expansion, and a strong focus on customer experience in underserved markets. What You’ll Learn Why household connectivity demands have changed dramatically, and...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Josh Otero, co-founder and CEO of Ilanah.ai, to discuss how an AI-powered companion can help bridge the gap between “no care” and real care for service members, veterans, and their families. Josh shares the mission-driven origin of Ilana.ai, why this community is uniquely underserved, and what responsible mental wellness support looks like at scale...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker speaks with Robert “Bob” Seiden, founder of White Cliff Wealth Management, about building a fiduciary advisory practice shaped by resilience, values-driven decision-making, and a focus on retirement planning strategies that help clients make smarter long-term financial choices. What You’ll Learn How a major personal setback can reshape your career path and streng...

In this episode, Taylor Baker sits down with Sam and Amber Warren, co-owners of Functional Medicine Institute, to talk about how a personal health journey and a shared mission led them to build a fast-growing functional medicine clinic and training platform focused on root-cause care and sustainable practice growth. What You’ll Learn How personal pain points can become a clear business “why” that...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Bruce Dorey, CEO and founder of JES AI, to explore how AI and human expertise can work together to streamline complex back-office and engineering-support work. Bruce shares lessons from building a specialized operations team, adopting practical AI workflows, and scaling with the right mindset and accountability systems. What You’ll Learn Why the be...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Eric Gleason, CTO at AP Professionals, to discuss how a relationship-first staffing firm can modernize operations with AI and automation while protecting culture, quality, and trust. The conversation focuses on balancing growth with client service, using technology to strengthen (not replace) human connection, and putting smart guardrails in place...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker speaks with Michael Meese, president of Armed Forces Mutual (AAFMAA), about leading and modernizing a mission-driven organization that serves military members and their families. Together, they explore how a legacy financial services brand can adapt to digital expectations, strengthen trust, and stay anchored to its purpose while scaling for the next generation.t...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Steve Pries, President of St. John Paul the Great Catholic High School in Denver, to talk about what it takes to build and lead a fast-growing, mission-driven school. Their conversation focuses on scaling a nonprofit organization while protecting culture, clarity of purpose, and long-term sustainability. What You’ll Learn Why crystal-clear mission...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Nelson Brooks, owner and “chief cabana boy” at Cabana Boys Hospitality, to discuss how he built a niche party-hosting and bartending concept into a multi-market hospitality brand while protecting the personalized experience that keeps customers coming back. What You’ll Learn How spotting a timely, location-specific demand can spark a scalable busin...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with George Ladkany and Grant Bruce, co-founders of Propertyse, to discuss how they’re rethinking the property management support model through “pods,” process-driven operations, and a human-first approach to automation and AI. Together, they unpack what it takes to modernize a relationship-heavy industry without losing the accountability and trust that...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Joe Gagnon, CEO and founder of Raynmaker, to discuss how AI is reshaping the sales experience especially for small and medium-sized businesses that need consistent, high-quality customer conversations without adding headcount. What You’ll Learn Why small and medium-sized businesses are uniquely positioned to benefit from AI-driven sales support How...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Marc Burmich, CEO of Choices, to discuss how mission-driven organizations can grow sustainably by strengthening donor relationships, clarifying their message, and staying relevant especially through high-pressure seasons like the COVID era. What You’ll Learn Why transactional donor engagement limits growth, and how shifting to transformational rela...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with William “Bill” Cornfield, president of WSG Systems and the creator behind Empire Suite Products, about building practical software for professional services—focusing on making time entry, billing, and scheduling easier and more reliable for accounting firms. What You’ll Learn: How a services-first software background can evolve into a focused vertical...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker sits down with Jordan Levy, co-founder and CEO of CapSource, to discuss how higher education and industry can collaborate more effectively to help students build real-world skills, career momentum, and clearer pathways from classroom to work. What You’ll Learn: Why students often struggle to answer “what can I do with this degree?” and how industry-connected lear...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Randy Tate, co-founder and CEO of iFlip, to talk about how everyday investors can use technology to invest more like institutions. Their conversation centers on building a data-driven investing platform that emphasizes transparency, risk management, and long-term wealth creation over speculation. What You’ll Learn: Why many mainstream investing exp...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Tyler Sasse, founder and CEO of Western Welding Academy, about rebuilding the pipeline of skilled trades talent and what it takes to train job-ready welders in a changing economy. Their conversation focuses on workforce readiness, values-based training, and how Tyler has scaled a modern trade school by meeting students where they are. What You’ll Lear...