The Business Spotlight Series

Welcome to the Business Spotlight Series! In this episode, Kay Cote interviews Kevin Grogan, CEO and founder of Big Timber Industries. Kevin shares his journey from corporate life to launching Big Timber Industries, a custom design and fabrication company based in Austin, Texas. He discusses the challenges of starting a business, his passion for creative, detailed projects, and the importance of d...

In this episode of Business Spotlight, host Sonali Nigam speaks with Adam Pearce, founder of Blend Commerce, about the power of building meaningful client relationships. Adam shares his approach to treating clients as true team members rather than viewing them through a transactional lens. Learn how embedding deeply with clients can drive long-term success, mutual trust, and a collaborative busine...

Welcome to the Business Spotlight Series, hosted by Kay Cote. In this episode, we feature Gareth Love, Managing Director of Mortgage Experts. Gareth shares his journey to business ownership, the challenges he's faced, and his best practices for success. Discover how Mortgage Experts empowers self-employed mortgage brokers in the UK with business coaching, growth strategies, and a focus on work-lif...

In this Business Spotlight interview, we hear from Cory Miller of PlugOp Technologies. Cory is new to Business Ownership, recently graduated from OSU and has already built a foundation for his business in the EV charging industry. Cory’s business strengths are in sales and raising capital. The challenge he shares is one of educating his customer base on a new approach to the EV charging structure....

Alex Caruso - Co-founder of Alessandro Caruso Architects In this interview, Alex shares how life’s unexpected challenges shaped his journey, from recovering after a serious accident that left him in the hospital for 3 months to founding his own architecture firm. His company focuses on designing spaces that prioritise people’s health and well-being. Alex also shares valuable business insights, bes...

Edward Chan brings incredible expertise to the climate tech startup Metasorbex that he founded and serves as its CEO.  He has decades of leadership experience with both large companies & technology startups.  He also has a very impressive Chemical Engineering education with a BS from Caltech and a PhD from Princeton.  Metasorbex is an early-stage advanced materials company focusing on climate...

In this Business Spotlight Tom O'Kelly speaks with Colm Ryan from https://www.assaygenie.com/ - providing innovative products such as antibody type kits for cancer to the scientific and research community globally. Colm takes us through his journey to market and his unique approach to marketing to this sector and his plans for the future growth of his company. Connect with Colm on LinkedIn:   / th...

In this episode of Business Spotlight Series, host Kay Cote sits down with Andrew Tyndall, CEO of Responsible Training, to explore the inspiring journey of building a successful, family-driven business from the ground up. Starting with in-person alcohol and food safety training out of a Ford Explorer in the late '90s, Responsible Training has evolved into a leading provider of online food safety a...

Hannah Sharp – Treasurer at Wisner Minnow Hatchery (Haring Catfish) Hannah has grown in this business, her life has been connected to this business which was founded in 1956 by her grandfather. The have gone up and down, side to side, built and retracted over its development and there is only one word that captures it all, resilience! Join us as we revisit with Hannah her journey with this excepti...

Wonderful interview with Tim Ryan founder of Volute. They were one of the first companies to be formed in the social media space. Tim wasn't even sure  websites would take off. They certainly have! So, for 25 years Volute have been helping businesses and other organisations design and develop websites, which are tailored to their needs and help them stand out from the crowd. Volute pride themselve...

Tom Myers is the Managing Director of Eco Providers who provide a whole-house domestic retrofit service for heating, solar and insulation upgrades to help lower bills, reduce carbon, emissions and alleviate fuel poverty, all of which are backed by guarantees and can potentially be funded by grants. You can get in touch with Tom here on LinkedIn:   / tom-myers-68a62b14a  🔔 Want your business to be...

Steve Gill is the Managing Director of Luton & Place, a manufacturer of aluminium die-casted parts and products, largely supplying the automotive and lighting industries. The company is well established, dating back to 1894 and the Gill family took control in 1977, when Derek Gill, Steve's father, bought the business and started to build it to where it is today, employing 160 people and growin...

SME Plant sales provide hydraulic attachments to make construction work easier. Since 2006, Michael O'Leary and his team have worked endlessly to build a customer base that is serviced with high-quality reliable products that offer quality as standard. Michael and his team value each and every customer and want to build a relationship based on trust. These qualities  make SME Plant Sales a team th...

Jolita started up her Sushi production facility  in 2021 during Covid. She started with home deliveries and selling product at markets. After a time Jolita opened a retail outlet with 5 employees and very little cash. Jolita has grown her business through having a passion for what she does and by trusting herself and her team. Jolita currently has 7 employees and has great plans to grow her busine...

In this episode of the Business Spotlight Series, host Kay Cote interviews Louise Atkins, Managing Director and owner of Share Haulage, a UK-based logistics company. Louise shares her inspiring journey from bartender to business owner, leading a growing team in the ever-evolving logistics industry. She dives into the challenges she faced, the importance of a solid team, and how her company continu...

Join Heather in an engaging conversation with Todd Coerver, the CEO of Easy Tiger, a renowned bakery and restaurant chain in Austin. In this episode, Todd shares his unique journey from a marketing and advertising background to leading successful ventures like Whataburger, Taco Cabana, and now Easy Tiger. He highlights the dynamic relationship between the investment group, the founder David, and h...

Neil is Managing Director Designate of McSherry Electrical based in Mallow. Neil talks about how his business had to redefine itself when 2 of his major customers ceased to operate in Ireland. This involved acquiring new skills and targeting  new niche specific industries. These strategies along with hard work and focus led to massive growth. Neil also talks about the qualities he looks for in his...

ATC is based in Shannon. Marie is a believer in Jim Collins' metaphor of "getting the right people on the bus" Marie hires people with a "Can Do" attitude who are open to learning and helping to improve ATC. Marie provides her team with a positive culture, training and the tools to do the job - and then she lets them do what they do best. Marie encourages "2 second lean" - all of her team members...

In 2017, Dave and his co-founders launched Simpatico, and in just a few short years, they've scaled it to an impressive £1.5M turnover. In this interview, we dive deep into the journey—what it really takes to build and grow a thriving business like Simpatico. Dave also shares his personal inspirations, the challenges he’s faced, and the key lessons he's learned along the way. Whether you’re a busi...

In this episode of Business Spotlight, we feature Alex Symington, Divisional Director of Clear Box Group, a company with over 10 years of success. Alex leads Neighbourgood, a specialist CSR agency that helps businesses build community-focused campaigns in the UK, Ireland and expanding into Europe. With a background in drama and broadcast PR, Alex joined Clear Box in 2018, bringing a unique skill s...

As a self-professed “not brilliant guy”, John Wilson of Wilson Plumbing and Heating had plenty of experience and business savvy to talk about in this episode.  For John it is really simple; know who your customer is, solve the customer pain points, be able to differentiate what you do from all the others, and be available to do what you do.  And them go do something. That’s the best advice John Wi...

Transforming Challenges into Opportunities in the Renovation Industry Business Spotlight – Mustafa Memon of Reno Rabbit Unlock the secrets to entrepreneurial growth with this insightful interview with Mustafa Memon, Co-Founder of Reno Rabbit Inc. as we explore how to turn industry gaps into business triumphs. Delve into the strategies and philosophies that drive innovation and success in the compe...

A HAPPY EXPERIENCE Isn’t that what everyone wants?  Well, when you visit Lisa Redman at her Nuevo Modern Mexican & Tequilla Bar that is the expectation, a happy experience.   Lisa has spent years in the restaurant space.  Since 2000 she has been in the kitchen, behind the bar, being the mouthpiece of establishments, all the while learning what she can about how things ought to be done.  Lisa h...

In this episode of Business Spotlight, we welcome Raj Agarwal, a dynamic entrepreneur with diverse ventures spanning import & export trade, sustainable bags and tech digital security for businesses. Raj emphasises the importance of starting early and not procrastinating, sharing how persistence and discipline have fuelled his success. He believes in maintaining consistency, pushing forward eve...

Scott Bates is an innovative leader in the promotional products industry. As the owner of Lambs Specialty Advertising, he has leveraged his extensive experience in sales and marketing to create a thriving business that serves a diverse clientele. With a passion for helping businesses enhance their brand visibility, Scott's mission is to connect clients with high-quality promotional products that l...