The Sharpen Podcast

Jeff Phillips, the Chief Lending Officer at Landmark National Bank and the Market President of Kansas City, shares his journey of becoming an intrapreneur within a banking organization, discovering the balance between working on the business versus in the business. Delve into Jeff's experiences and insights on leading a team, the transition from managing daily tasks to strategic planning, and how...

Fred Jentgen is launching a new Acumen team in Phoenix, Arizona! Fred shares his journey from a technology leader to an EOS implementer and founder of Unleashed Consulting Group. The conversation dives into the challenges and learning experiences Fred faced throughout his career, particularly leading through tragedy. He recounts the story of a key team member, Eric, who battled cancer at a young a...

Nick Usher, President of GQue BBQ, delves into the intricacies of business growth. Discover how this barbecue brand, renowned for its authentic and high-quality offerings, has expanded from a single location to multiple outlets while maintaining its signature taste and culture. Nick shares invaluable insights on teaching the art of barbecue across various locations, handling exponential growth, an...

What does it take to follow your calling, build a mission-driven organization, and impact the highest court in the land? In this episode, host Dan Cooper sits down with Kelly Shackelford, CEO of First Liberty Institute, to explore the leadership principles behind his work defending religious freedom. Kelly shares how he navigated the choice between ministry and law, the unique business model that...

The latest episode of the Sharpen Podcast, hosted by Steve Van Diest, features a compelling conversation with Rick McCullough, a seasoned leader with over 40 years of experience in the business world. Rick shares his journey from leading public companies to finding his purpose in giving back to the community. This episode delves into the challenges of maintaining creativity in a corporate environm...

Join host Dan Cooper as he sits down with Jon Schram, a successful serial entrepreneur known for selling the same company three times. Discover the significance of branding, exemplified by Jon's company, The Purple Guys, and learn how a simple color transformed into a memorable brand. Jon shares his intriguing journey — from the humble beginnings of unique branding strategies with purple shirts to...

Join Steve Van Diest as he hosts Dale Hahs, leader of AIS Industrial and Construction Supply. In this episode, they explore the challenges and triumphs of navigating an 80-year-old family business through technological, economic, and industry changes. Dale shares personal stories from his journey starting as an apprentice under his grandfather to stepping into the CEO role, and how his faith and l...

Join Dan Cooper as he delves into the world of Jack Stack Barbecue with CEO Travis Carpenter. In this episode, they explore the concept of "sacrificing sacred cows" in business, with a humorous nod to the barbecue industry. Discover how Travis led Jack Stack through transformative changes during COVID, including branching into grocery retail, embracing third-party delivery, and innovating with new...

David Riggs, a seasoned business leader and CEO of Pneuma, discusses the transformative power of listening to clients in the business world. This episode explores whether ego can interfere with our ability to truly hear our clients' needs and how businesses can thrive by prioritizing client feedback. David Riggs shares insights from his diverse career, highlighting his journey from corporate finan...

Host Dan Cooper sits down with Curt Sampson, Head of Growth for Monarch Inventory Services and Growth Catalyst at Acumen, to explore the intricate relationship between CEOs and COOs. As these roles are often referred to as the 'visionary' and 'integrator,' understanding their dynamic is crucial for business growth and success. Curt shares insights from his diverse career, starting from his days wi...

Join Steve Van Diest, co-host of the Sharpen Podcast, as he dives into the intricacies of business acquisition with Jeremy Hunka, a member of the Summit team in Colorado. Jeremy, a former chemistry major turned entrepreneur, shares his journey of buying and running Summit Cabinet Coatings, a cabinet refinishing business in Northern Colorado. In this episode, Jeremy discusses the transition from co...

In this episode, host Dan Cooper and guest Mike Farag delve into the strategic integration of real estate into business operations. Mike is the owner of Fervor Marketing, a full-service marketing communications agency for Christian nonprofits. Mike shares his journey of diversifying his business portfolio by incorporating real estate, discussing the strategic benefits and challenges he faced along...

Steve Van Diest and Dennis Corsi dive into the "Goldilocks" principle in the context of mergers and acquisitions. Discover how Dennis, a seasoned business owner and Growth Catalyst, navigated through too hot, too cold, and just right acquisition attempts with his firm, Armstrong Consultants. Learn valuable lessons on the importance of communication, maintaining focus during due diligence, and the...

In this episode, we delve into the journey of transitioning from a key executive role to becoming the CEO, especially when your name isn't on the door. Our guest today is Darin Heyen, the diligent and meticulous CEO of Pearce Construction, a company he bought from its founder, Don Pearce. Darin shares his unique journey from an entry-level project manager to the sole owner of a reputable construct...

Join Steve Van Diest, co-host of the Sharpen Podcast by Acumen, as he invites his wife, Christine Van Diest, to share about the unique challenges and rewards of being married to an entrepreneur! Christine, a business owner herself, shares her invaluable perspective and experiences from their 31-year journey together. Christine discusses the emotional and logistical hurdles of supporting an entrepr...

In today's episode, Dan Cooper invites Ben Olsen of Tarsus CFO Services to delve into the often confusing world of financial roles within a business. We discuss the differences between a bookkeeper, a controller, and a CFO, and why understanding these distinctions is crucial for any business owner. With wit and expertise, Ben provides clear insights into how these roles contribute to a company's f...

Join co-host Steve Van Diest as he sits down with Sean Taylor, co-founder of Cornerstone Christian Counseling. In this episode, they explore the intersection of business, ministry, and marriage, offering valuable insights for business owners and CEOs looking to grow and thrive. Sean shares his journey of starting a faith-based counseling practice with his wife, Angie, and the unique challenges and...

Join us for another down-to-earth conversation packed with wisdom and humor! Dan Cooper interviews Levi Messer on his movement from a trailblazing, sales-superhero style of leadership to something more collaborative, humble, and sustainable. One key takeaway: the value (and necessity) of a strong operating system! Learn how Levi grew personally and professionally, built a strong leadership team, a...

We all strive to balance our personal and professional lives - but how much more challenging can that be when you're combatting the patterns modeled to you, when your business is growing by leaps and bounds, and when the joyfully chaotic life of a young family is complicated further by processes of adoption? What can it look like for balance and calm to prevail, even then? Steve Van Diest intervie...

Our desire to add value to the world doesn't just vanish after we exit the business leadership seat. So what can a meaningfully productive retirement look like? Dan Cooper interviews Augie Grasis about his experience in this episode of the Sharpen Podcast.

Steve Van Diest interviews Justin Donat about his experience of twisting the classic business advice, "Hire out of your weaknesses," in negative ways.

Join Dan Cooper and Roper DeGarmo for a frank discussion of AI and its practical applications in the world of business leadership.

How can you ensure your marketing team is directly impacting the bottom line? What are the best and most profitable applications of AI in the marketing sphere? Robin Emiliani, Co-Founder & CMGO at Catalyst Marketing Agency, explores these questions and more in this insightful conversation with our co-host, Steve Van Diest.

Sean Miller, Chairman of the Miller Group, dives into succession planning, values-based business leadership, and how to set a company's next generation of leaders up for success in this insightful conversation with Acumen CEO Dan Cooper. Sean’s email: seanm@millercares.com Dan shares more information about learning more about Acumen at acumenimpact.com .