The Business Spotlight Series

In this episode, we feature Jason Kirk of Kirk & Kirk, who shares key insights from his entrepreneurial journey. Jason emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people to fuel growth and success. Passionate about his craft, Jason’s vision for the next five years is to make a lasting impact and ensure his work is widely recognized. His message is clear: pursue your dream...

In  this episode of Business Spotlight, we feature David Henderson, the founder and CEO of DHD, a full-service creative studio, branding and digital agency based in Belfast. David is also the CEO of Tubular, a CRM software company. After starting out in design doing freelance work post university, David's creativity led him to launch DHD, which has since grown into a global agency working with cli...

Welcome to Business Spotlight Series, hosted by Kay Cote at Action Coach Central Texas! In this episode, Kay sits down with Izabel Wicker, owner of Hush Hush Tan, a luxury spray tanning business with locations in Austin, Dallas, and Houston. Izabel shares her journey from growing up in Brazil to becoming an entrepreneur, her transition from a 9-to-5 job, and the challenges of launching her busines...

In this episode of the Business Spotlight Series, Heather and Jentri Quinn, the founder of Jentri Quinn Makeup and Skin Care, delve into Jentri's inspiring journey from a freelance makeup artist to a successful business owner. Jentri shares the challenges and triumphs of her entrepreneurial path, emphasizing her dedication to helping women over 40 restore their skin through natural and organic pro...

That’s the philosophy of Joshua Green from BFY Life & Forever Young Publishing.  When you chase business down to the bottom all you get are bottom feeders.  And bottom feeders are not your customer.  They belong to the price they can get. They will ALWAYS look for a lower price.  Whether they get it from you or a competitor, they will go to where the price is.   Josh’s mindset is those custome...

Welcome to the "Business Spotlight Series," where we dive into the stories behind innovative startups shaping the future of business. In this episode, host Kay Cote interviews Daniel Sakhai, Co-founder and Co-CEO of HeyHire, the game-changing platform for hiring local talent in the service industry. Daniel shares his journey from growing up in a family-owned restaurant to launching HeyHire with hi...

In this episode of the Business Spotlight podcast, host Ted Schmidt talks with Kari Grambo, owner of Harmony Yoga, about the importance of setting boundaries and finding a team that aligns with her company’s core values. Kari shares how she has learned to avoid being available 24/7, allowing for a healthier work-life balance, and why it’s essential to recruit employees who truly embody the values...

In this episode of the Business Spotlight podcast, host Ted Schmidt interviews Sybil MacDonald, a Marketing & Communications expert dedicated to growing her company in the Greater Spokane area. Sybil shares her insights on recruiting people who bring not only skill but also passion, gratitude, and a desire to learn—qualities she considers essential for sustainable business growth. She discusse...

In this episode of the Business Spotlight podcast, host Ted Schmidt sits down with Gordon Hester from Kiemle Hagood to discuss the essential skills for successful leadership, including fostering clear communication with employees and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. Gordon shares strategies for building trust through effective communication and setting boundaries to prevent burnout, both f...

Misc. Goods Co builds products with practical purpose — keepsakes which are set apart. Manufactured in America, our goods are timeless in form and use, both for home and abroad. My company was born out of difficult time. I wasn’t planning or even dreaming of running a product company. Misc. Goods wasn't sparked from a conversation among friends. It emerged from a dry-spell as a free-lance designer...

In this episode of the Business Spotlight Podcast, Ted Schmidt sits down with Chris Hannigan, the driving force behind Mama Torrez Salsa Company, to explore the challenges of building a successful business. Chris opens up about the dissatisfactions he's faced, from learning how to navigate different personalities within his team to the complexities of fostering a strong team culture when employees...

Welcome to another episode of the Business Spotlight Series! Today, Heather Frierson interviews Edison Pardo, president and co-owner of JPG Accounting, Tax, and Payroll Company. Edison shares his inspiring journey from studying accounting in Colombia and the US to co-owning JPG, a company dedicated to supporting small businesses, particularly Latino businesses in the US. Discover how JPG has grown...

Scott Shearin is the Founder & CEO of Veteran Talent Advisors, a talent recruiting firm that specializes in solutions for Veteran friendly employers.  They have worked with a long list of highly respected businesses by connecting them with highly trained & talented veterans to fill key resource needs including IT, manufacturing and the skilled trades. Scott (a Veteran of the Marine Corp) b...

Shark Jockey helps businesses navigate oceans of marketing questions in order to win the race against competitors and scale up. The term ‘guru’ was initially used as a compliment. It referred to a mentor, or someone who helped less experienced individuals find their calling by answering questions and providing training or guidance. Unfortunately, in more modern times, businesses began calling mark...

Shelf Love, a "natural food merchandiser", celebrated their first year in business in July.   Meghan Sumser, founder of Shelf Love, share's her journey to entrepreneurship in this episode of the Business Spotlight.  You'll sense her passion as she shares her company's role in helping natural food brands take their product to market in a very focused niche.  She'll share the challenges she's overco...

Kevin Royce is Co-owner & Regional Director for Xcel Physical Therapy based in the Dayton Ohio area.  He also holds a Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Dayton.  As a therapist owned firm, Xcel provides a wide range of physical therapy services focusing on the patient experience while passionately impacting lives.   Knowing the market has been a key to their growth and he shares...

We are thrilled to welcome Dan Broomham, the Chief Revenue Officer at OneBeyond, to our newest episode. OneBeyond is at the forefront of software solutions, partnering with forward-thinking clients eager to leverage cutting-edge technology for business growth. In this episode, Dan dives deep into his passion for maximizing technology's potential. With a wealth of knowledge and experience, he discu...

Mike Bell is Co-Founder and CTO of Scheduler AI, a software as a service business started in 2021.  Scheduler AI leverages their patented technology for businesses to grow sales by rapidly converting conversations into meaningful meetings with prospects.   Mike shares how the technology concept was born from their own challenges in scheduling meetings and also how they made multiple pivots to move...

The Adspire Creative Group offers a full suite of marketing and video services designed to set your brand apart.  In today's episode Co-Founder Craig Ballin shares his passion for documenting his clients' stories, his belief that trust in business partners and employees is critical, and his journey to find himself.   We talk about his book "Travel Now" due out in November which chronicles a gap ye...

Karin Kirchmeier, CEO of Partners for Community Development Karin Kirchmeier joined the team at Partners for Community Development, Inc. in 2020, where she succeeded Lucio Fuentez as the Executive Director. Karin is eager to continue the mission and vision of the organization, and strengthen the communities that Partners serves. Karin holds dual degrees in Administrative Leadership and Communicati...

In this episode of Business Spotlight Series, host Kay Cote sits down with Tyler Bliha, CEO and founder of Abode, a groundbreaking financial management platform for homeowners. Tyler shares his entrepreneurial journey, from Wall Street to launching Abode, and how his personal experiences in homeownership inspired him to create a service that helps homeowners save on recurring costs like property t...

"Keep every business in business."  Now that's a vision.  In this episode watch Edgel Groves Co-Founder of PassPass that just launched in February.  PassPass is an innovative service that leverages the coupon model in an electronic form providing benefits to both the end user and the business offering the coupon.   Hear Edge share about his 10 years in a band that laid the groundwork for his entre...

Welcome to the Business Spotlight Series hosted by Kay Cote! In this episode, Kay interviews Dr. Vera Dickinson, Founder and CEO of Innova-Q, a leading tech startup based in Austin, Texas. Dr. Vera shares how Innova-Q is revolutionizing the manufacturing industry by integrating AI and innovative technologies to improve product quality. Learn about their latest launch, the InQ Knowledge Center, and...

In this episode of the Business Spotlight Series, host Kay Cote sits down with Eric Hemati, CEO and founder of Hemati Insurance Agency, to discuss his journey into the insurance industry. With over two decades of experience, Eric shares how a personal experience with a neighbor battling cancer ignited his passion for offering life and health insurance solutions. Eric dives into the challenges he f...

Welcome to Business Spotlight Series, hosted by Kay Cote! In this episode, we dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey of Tarun Abraham, Managing Director of Jones Skips. Tarun shares his fascinating path from finance and management consulting at Bain to acquiring and leading Jones Skips, a well-established waste management company in the UK. Discover the challenges of business acquisitions, the...