The Inspired Stories Podcast

How can an entrepreneur build a thriving burger franchise and elevate the customer experience through an unwavering commitment to quality, consistency, and continuous improvement? In this episode, Gerald Tritt, co-owner of Vera's Burger Shack, shares his journey from taking over a beach concession to establishing an award-winning burger brand with 10 locations across Canada. Despite the challenges...

How can a PR agency elevate lifestyle brands and navigate the evolving media landscape through creativity, adaptability, and strong relationships? In this episode, Matt Kovacs, president of Blaze PR, shares his expertise in transforming a boutique agency into a powerhouse known for its innovative strategies and award-winning culture. Despite the challenges of a shrinking media pool and the rise of...

How can an entrepreneur build a thriving seafood franchise and positively impact lives through resilience and adaptability? In this episode, Eric Roy, founder and CEO of Surf's Up Franchising, shares his inspiring journey from growing up in the inner city of Chicago to establishing a successful fast-casual seafood restaurant chain with eight locations. Despite facing numerous challenges along the...

In this episode, Carlotta Thompson, founder and CEO of Tax Strategists of America, shares her journey from studying tax law at age 14 to becoming an ex-IRS agent and ultimately helping business owners save thousands on taxes legally. As the only firm in the U.S. that implements tax strategies on a monthly basis, Carlotta and her team work closely with entrepreneurs to ensure they keep more of thei...

How can an entrepreneur use innovative wealth-building strategies and franchising to create opportunities and change lives? In this episode, Randolph Love III, CEO of Shield Wolf Strongholds, shares his journey from a Billboard musician to a successful franchise consultant and fractional CFO. With a focus on helping people legally keep more of their hard-earned money, Randolph has developed the Mi...

How can a niche consultancy navigate the complex world of international workers' compensation and case management? In this episode, Ryan Hawley, CEO of Odin Industries, shares his journey of building a boutique consultancy specializing in managing medical care and claims for civilian contractors and multinational corporations operating in challenging environments around the globe. With a backgroun...

How can an entrepreneur build two top 100 franchise chains and change thousands of lives through perseverance and innovation? In this episode, John Hewitt, founder and CEO of Loyalty Brands, shares his incredible journey from starting Jackson Hewitt with just six locations to growing it into a billion-dollar company with over 6,000 locations. He later went on to start Liberty Tax Service, which gr...

How can a U.S. manufacturer pivot and adapt during a crisis to not only survive but thrive? In this episode, Matt Bulloch, founder and president of TentCraft, shares his journey of transforming a small custom tent manufacturing business into a thriving company that played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a background in the Army National Guard and a chance encounter that led him to...

How can fitness entrepreneurs create a unique and engaging workout experience that keeps members coming back? In this episode, Roger Martin, co-founder and CEO of Rockbox Fitness Franchise, shares his journey of building a state-of-the-art group fitness studio that combines intensity, fun, motivation, and results. With a background in the pharmaceutical industry, Roger brings a unique perspective...

How can entrepreneurs take a local culinary concept and scale it nationally while maintaining authenticity and quality? In this episode, Greg Willman, Chairman and CEO of NafNaf, shares his journey of growing a fast-casual Middle Eastern restaurant chain across the United States. With over 25 years of experience investing and operating in quick-service restaurants, real estate development, and ear...

How can professionals from diverse backgrounds leverage their unique skills and experiences to become successful fractional CFOs? In this episode, Mathew King, founder of King Strategy, shares his inspiring journey from leaving school in year 10 to pursue a trade in refrigeration and air conditioning, to eventually becoming a successful fractional CFO. With over 25 years of experience across sever...

How can aspiring business owners find the perfect franchise opportunity that aligns with their skills, interests, and goals? In this episode, Tim Parmeter, founder and CEO of FranCoach, shares his inspiring journey from the corporate world to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the franchising industry. With his company partnered with over 600 franchisors across nearly 70 industries, Tim offers...

How can small business owners navigate the complexities of payroll and avoid costly IRS penalties? We sit down with Charles Read, a distinguished CPA, U.S. Tax Court Practitioner, and the driving force behind GetPayroll. With a career spanning over five decades and a wealth of experience in financial leadership, Charles offers an unparalleled perspective on the intricacies of payroll management fo...

How can entrepreneurs navigate the challenges and opportunities of starting, scaling, and selling multiple businesses across different industries? In this episode, Dominic Rubino, a seasoned entrepreneur and business coach, shares his remarkable journey of building and exiting several successful ventures. From an online pharmacy that reached $120 million in sales to growing a business coaching fra...

How can investors tap into the lucrative world of mortgage note investing while effectively managing risks? In this episode, Chris Seveney, co-founder and CEO of 7E Investments, shares his wealth of knowledge on the mortgage note investment space. 7E specializes in acquiring distressed mortgages at a discount and restructuring the loans, providing attractive returns for investors. Chris breaks dow...

How can restaurant operators harness the power of data to streamline their decision-making process and boost their bottom line? In this episode, Ward Olgreen, Chief Operating Officer at Red Onion, shares his expertise on utilizing analytics to gain a deeper understanding of customer behavior and make data-backed business choices. Red Onion is the premier provider of restaurant analytics, empowerin...

How can a franchise brand differentiate itself in the competitive fast-casual chicken industry while maintaining a personal touch?  In this episode, Mike LaRue, VP of Franchise Development at Angry Chickz, shares his insights on building a successful franchise concept that stands out from the crowd. With a focus on high-quality food, unique flavors, and a strong connection to the community, Angry...

How can a single mom overcome adversity to build a successful restaurant franchise that preserves a neighborhood's unique culture? In this episode, Jelena Pasic, founder and CEO of Harlem Shake, shares her journey from Croatian immigrant to thriving entrepreneur. After falling in love with Harlem during her visits to a local gym, Jelena decided to create a burger joint that celebrates the neighbor...

How can small business owners navigate legal and tax challenges to achieve their big ideas? In this episode, Barbara Weltman, founder of Big Ideas for Small Business, shares her transition from attorney to small business guru. After hearing the same questions from her clients over and over, she decided to close her law practice and focus on writing to reach a wider audience. Barbara discusses the...

How do you revolutionize the ice cream industry and introduce a one-of-a-kind experience to the US market? In this episode, we explore the journey of Jerry Hancock, the co-founder, and CEO of SubZero Ice Cream, as he introduces a unique ice cream experience to the US market. Jerry shares the inspiration behind SubZero Ice Cream, which utilizes liquid nitrogen to craft customized flavors and textur...

How do you build a team-based approach when it comes to finances? In this candid episode, Mike Derringer, Area President at Focus CFO, shares his journey from being an introverted, numbers-focused CFO to becoming an extroverted fractional business owner who loves business development. After reaching a career crossroads at age 40, Mike took the entrepreneurial leap by joining Focus CFO, a pioneer i...

How do you introduce a novel restaurant concept to the US market? In this episode, Troy Hooper, CEO of Hot Palate America, the parent company of Pepper Lunch Restaurants, shares his journey bringing a unique Japanese fast-casual dining experience to the United States. Pepper Lunch offers a "DIY teppanyaki" model where customers cook their own high-quality ingredients on a 500-degree iron plate at...

How do you help overworked business owners achieve their big dreams? In this episode, Ben Wolf, founder and CEO of Wolf's Edge Integrators, shares his journey from "late onset entrepreneurship" as a bankruptcy attorney to running one of the world's largest fractional COO firms. After being laid off from his law firm, Ben took a leap into the entrepreneurial world, eventually becoming COO of a fast...

How do you help small business owners achieve lasting success and build generational wealth? In this episode, Craig Paxson, a fractional COO, certified strategy planner, and business coach, shares his insights on creating profitable and sellable businesses that stand the test of time. As the founder of Visionary Results, Craig works with overworked and under profitable business owners to help them...

How do you build a successful real estate investing business in the mobile home niche? In this episode, Adrian Smude, founder of Lifestyle Real Estate Investing, shares his journey from being evicted as a tenant to becoming a thriving mobile home investor. After experiencing the challenges of being a problematic tenant and losing money on a failed property investment, Adrian discovered the untappe...