The Grit to Growth Podcast

How does someone go from milking cows to managing multi-million dollar real estate projects? In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Owen Reimer, founder of Stone Shore Capital, to explore his two-decade journey from growing up on a dairy farm in rural Canada to building over $100 million in real estate development projects. Owen opens up about the lessons h...

In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, host Levi Te Slaa sits down with Jon Brudvig, a leading biotech researcher specializing in lysosomal health — a cellular recycling system critical for treating rare diseases, improving longevity, and preserving health as we age. Jon shares how he went from running a Sioux Falls coffee shop to earning a PhD in biology, pioneering drug development at Am...

In this episode, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Chris Van Dusen—a seasoned operator, investor, and marketer—who has built and scaled brands from scratch, led three successful exits, and now serves as a Senior Partner at Salico Capital. Broadcasting from Huntington Beach, California, Chris shares how he went from “accidental entrepreneur” to leading strategic growth investments for top-tier clients. C...

In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Lisa Groon—veteran, healthcare leader, community advocate, and TEDx speaker—whose story embodies the power of following purpose over simply following a path. Lisa shares her journey from a small town in South Dakota to 22 years in the South Dakota Army National Guard (as a musician, no less), and into a career in healthcare...

What happens when a former global corporate leader trades the boardroom for the laundromat? In this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi Te Slaa sits down with Jon Schemmel, the man some call the "Midwest Laundromat King." Jon shares how he went from buying his first laundromat in 2020 to building a 22-store portfolio across three states—and why every acquisition feels like uncovering a new...

What happens when a physician swaps scrubs for startups? In this episode, Levi sits down with Dr. Adam Finzen, a former clinician who now leads business development at WRS Health. Adam shares the pivotal moment during the pandemic that made him question the traditional path of medicine and what ultimately led him to transition into the health tech world. We explore: What inspired Adam to shift fro...

In this episode, Andy Holst dives into the evolution of House of Brands—from its humble beginnings as Embroidery and Screen Works to becoming a premium provider of branded merchandise across the U.S. and Canada. Andy shares his insights on strategic rebranding, building meaningful client relationships, and scaling operations through world-class service and customization. He discusses how understan...

On this episode of The Grit to Growth Podcast, Levi sits down with Erik Dwyer, a Minneapolis-based audio engineer and real estate investor. Erik shares his unique path from working audio gigs at sporting events and corporate shows to building a real estate portfolio one condo at a time. Learn how a desire to save on rent while attending audio engineering school led Erik to buy his first condo—and...

From selling candy bars as a kid to reshaping multifamily real estate development, Dusten Hendrickson’s entrepreneurial journey is anything but typical. In this episode, Dusten joins Levi Te Slaa to share how his passion for design and efficiency evolved into Mailbox Money—a fast-growing real estate development company focused on intentional, impactful living spaces across the Midwest. Dusten dive...

From a farm kid in New Holland, South Dakota, to a multi-business owner making bold moves across the country, Robbie Veurink’s story is all about grit, growth, and getting your hands dirty—literally. In this episode, Robbie shares his journey from working for the City of Sioux Falls to founding three successful businesses. He opens up about knocking on doors to get his first clients, launching a c...

In this episode, Levi Te Slaa welcomes Roger Pedersen, co-founder of East River Contracting, for an inspiring deep-dive into what it really takes to build a successful construction business from the ground up. Roger shares his early roots growing up in a family-run resort, the humble beginnings of East River with roofing jobs, and how a leap of faith—and a bit of grit—led to unexpected growth. Rog...

The Grit to Growth Podcast is for South Dakota’s hardworking business owners and professionals who believe in rolling up their sleeves and getting the job done. This show dives into the real stories of local entrepreneurs—especially in blue-collar and construction industries—who turned grit, determination, and sweat equity into success.