The Business Spotlight Series

In this Business Spotlight interview, we hear from Jonathan Ross, Co-Founder and Director of Vision Scotland. Starting as a small family business, Jonathan embarked on a journey to build a great business. His vision rocket fuelled his ambition and self-belief to build the business he has today. Keeping focused on the one thing, taking a leap of faith and overcoming self-doubt in his journey, spott...

In this episode, Alida sits down with James Battershill, founder of Echo Square, to discuss his journey of building a business in the highly specialised field of water tank relining and replacement. From starting in 2019 to working on prestigious projects like Buckingham Palace and massive data centres, James shares insights on what it takes to grow a business in a niche industry. Topics Covered:...

In this Business Spotlight interview, we hear from Stacie Boord – CEO of Shadowbox Live, an ensemble theatre company with over 30 years of multi-city production success! Stacie shares her success stories of taking care of her people and being “One hell of a sales person!”.  Our interview covers a story of “Artists pursuing a dream” and creating business success from creative minds. Some great advi...

In this Business Spotlight interview, we hear from Curran Hennessey of STAFF Now – a long-term, temporary staffing agency. Curran has been in the temporary staffing industry for over 4 years. STAFF Now experienced 65% growth in 2024 and believes it’s uniqueness from others in this market springs from it’s track record of providing dependable labor when clients call. Some great advice shared here,...

In this Business Spotlight interview, we hear from Mark Whitman – Owner of TeamBuilder Search – “A Life Improvement Company". Mark shares his success stories of overcoming great personal health challenges to become the leader of an executive search /recruiting company with a culture of improving life for all involved. As he shares his story, it’s obvious both his and his company’s superpower is pe...

Join Simon Marshall as he interviews James English, co-owner and CEO of Vehicle Smart, one of the UK's leading platforms for learner drivers and vehicle owners.  James shares the journey of developing his innovative apps, tackling challenges like adapting to changes in technology, and balancing the demands of business ownership.  They discuss key lessons in pricing, the importance of processes, hi...

Should you involve your young son or daughter in the business?  ABSOLUTELY!  Look at Wugs! Watch this podcast and learn how Whitney Atkinson was inspired by a common problem along the Coastal Bend.  She made improvements to her own outdoor rug and after a weather event realized, "We might have something here."  Hear her advice for business owners about branding, giving back to the community, bookk...

Join host Ted Schmidt on the Business Spotlight Series as he speaks with Tara Malek, owner and litigator at Smith + Malek, about the challenges of balancing high-performance leadership with personal well-being.   Tara shares her journey in the legal world and the pressures of running a business while striving to take care of herself. She discusses the importance of prioritising well-being to funct...

Join Simon Marshall as he interviews Rachel Watkyn, founder and chair of the Tiny Box Company, a pioneer in ethical and recycled luxury packaging. Rachel shares her entrepreneurial journey, from launching Tiny Box Company as a market disruptor to her experience on Dragon’s Den, securing investment and overcoming self-doubt to create a business now employing over 100 people. They discuss the challe...

Join Simon Marshall as he interviews Rashedul Hasan, Managing Director of Visiting Angels North West Kent, a personalised home care service, and Founder of Digital Care, a full-service digital marketing agency. Rashedul shares his journey from a family of entrepreneurs to becoming a business owner, navigating challenges in both the care and marketing sectors. They discuss Visiting Angels' rapid gr...

Dan Maddox is the owner and Managing Director of Evolve Document Solutions who supply and service multi functional copiers and printers to businesses. Dan is well established, known, liked and trusted in this industry with 30 years of success behind him and an exciting future ahead for him and his team. You can get in touch with Daniel here on LinkedIn:   / daniel-maddox-12302926  🔔 Want your bus...

Ever feel like you’re getting lost in the feed of endless social media posts? Is the algorithm to blame, or could you have used better hashtags? The world of social media is constantly evolving, and you deserve a partner to help you navigate it. At Full Court Social, we’re passionate about helping people find success on social that grows with their business. Let’s talk and discuss your social goal...

Rooted in a heritage of fabrication and machining expertise dating back to 1970, CKT is ideally positioned and well-guided by its team of seasoned business managers and automotive experts to deliver solutions to answer the industry’s ongoing requirements.  CKT is a WBE-certified business comprised of two divisions, with two facilities. It’s a 50+ year old, vertically integrated machine and fabrica...

We are proud to serve the Bluegrass and beyond, providing premium service. Founded the month before the pandemic, From Here to There has been providing relief on moving day ever since. Full satisfaction is our goal and we accomplish this by consistently going above and beyond. The golden rule is our modus operandi and we emphasize integrity and efficiency.  From Here to There is a white-glove, bou...

Hi, I'm Jonathan Bennett, Founder and CEO of KAKOU USA, a small privately owned minority business committed to providing our customers with the utmost excellence by delivering quality products and dependable service.  Our history of success is directly related to our ability to perform key tasks, including overseeing execution of innovative platform strategies, closely monitoring projects from inc...

In this episode of Business Spotlight, host Ted Schmidt speaks with David Ittner, CEO of Fairmount Memorial Association. David reflects on his career journey and shares insights on how his early years might have been different if he had explored various industries to gain broader perspectives. His reflections provide valuable lessons for those navigating their own professional growth and seeking t...

In this episode, Craig sits down with Russell Crouch of Enfinity Engineering to explore the fascinating journey of building a successful engineering firm. Specializing in mechanical, HVAC, lighting, power, plumbing, medical gas, and low-voltage technology design for buildings, Enfinity Engineering has carved out a niche in the healthcare sector. Russell shares insights into the challenges of manag...

Our guest today on the Business Spotlight is Steve Napoli founder of TERRA, the largest network of certified e-waste recyclers and IT asset disposition (ITAD) providers in the world.  Join us as we discuss the origins and importance of the electronics recycling industry, with a focus on proper handling and downstream materials.  We also discuss the challenges of encouraging people to do the right...

In this episode of the Business Spotlight Podcast, our Host Ted Schmidt interviews Shane Johnson, the CEO of Carbon Quest. They discuss Shane’s business journey, how he manages work-life balance, and much more! Don’t forget to like and subscribe to get notifications for more of these kinds of great episodes.  You can get in touch with Shane here on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-johns...

🎙️ Welcome to the Business Spotlight Series with your host, Kay Cote! In this episode, we sit down with Jon Stone, Managing Director of Frederick Cooper, to uncover the secrets of running a successful business in the high-end automotive industry -- yes we're talking 007 James Bond! 🚗✨ Jon shares his journey from accounting graduate to leading a renowned company specializing in premium paint spra...

Every business owner has lots to learn.  Whether you learn it up front, down the road, or along the way, you’ve got plenty to learn as you create, build, and run your business.  The Blackman brothers decided to take the journey together.  As young entrepreneurs they focus on building their company through Faith & Focus, Serving Clients with Value, and Going the Extra Mile.  They want to give t...

In this interview with Warren Fiihr, Carla Bisong shared her journey into the art business, starting from a finance background and transitioning into becoming an art dealer. They talked about the challenges of running an art gallery and her vision for expansion. Carla views her role more as a connector between artists and art buyers, rather than a traditional salesperson. Her insights on hiring, m...

In this episode of Business Spotlight, host Ted Schmidt interviews Mark Norton, Executive Director of Northwest I90 Manufacturing Alliance. Mark shares his perspective on the challenges and importance of maintaining work-life balance, especially in leadership roles. He offers valuable insights into how professionals can effectively balance their personal and professional lives while driving succes...

In this episode, Harvard and Penn graduate José Padilla shares his unique journey—from shunning a traditional legal career to pioneering AI-driven tools that empower business owners to navigate legal challenges across the globe. José discusses how his dual ventures, Padilla Law (www. Padilla.law) and Legalmente (www.legalmente.ai), are transforming the legal landscape by providing accessible, affo...

Perry Languirand's entrepreneurial journey began at an impressively young age. By 14, he had already started and successfully sold his first business, quickly earning a role as a District Manager. Although his school years temporarily interrupted his ambitions, Perry graduated at 16, and took his next steps. His military service provided not only valuable skills but also connected him with a futur...