The Achieve Podcast

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Bill Douglas, CEO of OpticWise, about helping commercial property owners improve building performance through technology, data, and smarter operational strategies. Bill shares his journey as a lifelong entrepreneur and explains how his company helps large property portfolios optimize energy usage, operations, and overall asset performance. What You’ll...

In this episode, host Taylor Baker speaks with Rick Kroon, a serial entrepreneur and CEO behind ventures including Airside Logistics, Epic Water, and Norma Jean’s Cheesecake. The conversation explores Rick’s entrepreneurial journey, the lessons he learned through setbacks and partnerships, and how he continues to build mission-driven businesses across multiple industries. What You’ll Learn Why nat...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Dan Frank, CEO of Silver Screen Decoration and Fulfillment, to discuss how a modern apparel decoration company scales by pairing production capabilities with fulfillment, systems, and smart use of emerging tools like AI. What You’ll Learn Why “innovation” in this industry means expanding beyond one decoration method (screen print, embroidery, digit...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Mike Bringhurst, co-owner of Patriot Home Mortgage, to discuss how a fast-growing mortgage company scales across dozens of states by prioritizing education, operational foundations, and steady leadership especially in a market that’s constantly shifting. What You’ll Learn How Patriot Home Mortgage’s early positioning (including outreach to veterans...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Collin Castellaw, co-founder of PlayersTV and a former educator turned YouTube creator, to discuss how athlete-led media can deepen fan connection by spotlighting the people behind the performance. Together, they explore building a modern sports media business that blends authentic storytelling with scalable distribution and advertising technology....

In this episode, Host Jessie Warner sits down with Paul Seibert, founder of Seibert Consulting Group, to discuss what it takes to build and scale a specialized consulting firm at the intersection of enterprise e-commerce and ERP and how agentic AI is changing software delivery, client outcomes, and competitive advantage.ndustry. What You’ll Learn Why “ERP + e-commerce in real time” is a make-or-br...

In this episode, Host Jesse Warner sits down with Nimi Natan, President and CEO of Gulf Coast Small Business Lending, to talk about what it takes to build and scale a national lending platform and how entrepreneurs can use SBA-backed financing as a practical path to growth. The conversation centers on disciplined expansion, relationship-driven deal flow, and the realities of underwriting and leade...

In this episode, Host Stephen Bunker speaks with Michael Bremmer, a Vice President and longtime volunteer leader with the Association of Manufacturing Excellence, about building cultures of continuous improvement and how leaders can protect the “learning loops” that fuel long-term performance especially as organizations make major strategic bets like outsourcing, ERP, and AI adoption. What You’ll...

In this episode, Host Stephen Bunker sits down with Eric, a partner at Spark 6 and a systems designer focused on defining workflows, to discuss how AI is reshaping modern service businesses and how leaders can adopt automation responsibly, ethically, and effectively. What You’ll Learn How a “legacy” digital product studio can evolve into an AI implementation partner by listening closely to client...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Asa Dyer, President of OEL Worldwide Industries, to discuss how OEL protects electrical workers through specialized PPE and equipment and how the company is navigating rapid growth driven by electrification, grid constraints, and expanding energy infrastructure. What You’ll Learn Why the market for electrical safety gear is expanding beyond traditi...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Rylie Hicks, a young entrepreneur and the CEO and co-founder behind Scrubs Spotless (and other ventures), to talk about what “success” really means, how to build businesses around clear metrics, and how AI and smart marketing systems can help operators scale faster without breaking trust or the business model. What You’ll Learn Why defining “succes...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Nahjee Maybin, CEO of KCS Computer Services, to discuss how he’s scaling a family-founded IT company into a modern managed service provider while staying rooted in community education, values-driven client relationships, and responsible AI adoption. What You’ll Learn How a family business can evolve from “fixing computers” into a full managed servi...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Kjer Kizer, CEO of Oregon FFA, to discuss how the organization builds student leadership at scale while aligning multiple stakeholder groups, expanding access through barrier-free participation, and strengthening communications in a changing media and technology landscape. What You’ll Learn How Oregon FFA is structured across three interconnected a...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Beth Flory, CEO of S.A.F.E. House in Henderson, Nevada, to discuss what it takes to lead and grow a comprehensive domestic violence shelter organization. Their conversation explores survivor-centered services, sustainable funding, community awareness, and the operational realities of supporting victims of domestic violence and their children. What...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Andrew Kroes, CEO of Because International, to explore how a firsthand encounter with kids lacking properly fitting shoes sparked the creation of a durable, adjustable “growing shoe” and a mission-driven organization focused on dignity, health, and opportunity in underserved communities. What You’ll Learn How a single, vivid moment in the field can...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Bill Woolf, a retired U.S. Air Force colonel and the Founder, President, and CEO of the Space Force Association, to discuss what it takes to build and scale a mission-driven organization in a highly specialized space. Their conversation explores how SFA is shaping the spacepower community through advocacy, education, and convening leaders across go...

In this episode, Taylor Baker sits down with Dan Linn, founder and CEO of Hello World, to talk about building a development-first agency, leading with values as a certified B Corp, and using AI to increase efficiency without sacrificing quality or accountability. What You’ll Learn Why a development-focused model can create smoother projects and better outcomes than treating development as an after...

In this episode, Taylor Baker sits down with Drew Eubank, EVP and co-founder of Zion Solutions Group, to discuss how values-driven leadership and customer-first integrity are helping Zion grow in the warehouse automation and supply chain technology space. Drew shares the company’s origin story, how they protect culture while scaling, and why “doing what’s right” is a long-term growth strategy. Wha...

In this episode, Host Jessie Warner sits down with Rachel Kelly, founder and CEO of Hive Enterprises, to discuss how she’s building a multi-venture, mission-driven organization that helps leaders scale their businesses while funding impact work that supports survivors of abuse and human trafficking. What You’ll Learn How to design a “profits for purpose” enterprise model that aligns revenue growth...

In this episode, Taylor Baker sits down with Rock Rockett, PhD, founder of Rocket Healthcare Strategies, to discuss how independent physician groups can strengthen their financial performance and preserve autonomy. The conversation centers on helping doctors expand office-based procedures, navigate accreditation and payer contracting, and build scalable operational systems without losing focus on...

In this episode, Taylor Baker hosts a conversation with Dan Conaway, President of THK Associates, about how objective, data-driven real estate consulting helps organizations make smarter decisions on land use, valuation, and development feasibility. Dan shares lessons from decades in the industry, including how market dynamics, entitlement complexity, and new technology (including AI) are reshapin...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker speaks with Seth Turner, founder and senior advisor at AbsenceSoft, about how leave of absence and accommodations management has evolved into a high-stakes mix of compliance, employee experience, and scalable operations and what it takes to build a mission-driven software company in a complex, fast-changing space. What You’ll Learn Why leave and accommodations ma...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Brandon Stevens, CEO and founder of Scoutr, to discuss how data science, behavioral science, and AI can reshape talent acquisition and internal mobility through a skills-based approach that improves matching, development, and retention. What You’ll Learn Why modern hiring breaks down when it relies too heavily on resumes and surface-level credentia...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Jason Vega, founder of Kingdom Creatives and a digital strategy leader focused on innovation and growth, to discuss how a faith-driven vision turned into a scalable business model designed to help smaller churches access modern web and technology resources. What You’ll Learn How to translate a personal calling into a practical business concept with...

In this episode, Host Taylor Baker sits down with Rich Potter, co-founder of Blink Board Media and a franchise broker, to explore how local businesses and aspiring owners can use modern marketing, advertising, and AI tools to accelerate growth without losing the human touch. What You’ll Learn How Rich’s path through sales, franchising, and advertising shaped a practical, results-first approach to...