The Think Small Podcast

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Michael Stier, Area President at FocusCFO® and President of the Charlotte Chapter of the Exit Planning Exchange, discussed the importance of preparing a business for its eventual transition or sale. Drawing on his experience as an entrepreneur who grew and sold his own business, Michael shares how his work now focuses on helping small and midsized busine...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Michael T. van der Veen, a nationally recognized trial lawyer, to discuss the journey of building a successful law practice, seizing meaningful opportunities, and developing the business skills required to lead a growing firm. Michael shares lessons from his early career, including his involvement in the landmark needle exchange trials and his experience...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Armen Arustamov, founder & CEO of Got It Life, discussed about how lessons from professional sports and psychology can help entrepreneurs overcome mental barriers and improve performance. A former professional tennis player, psychologist, and tennis academy co-founder, Armen developed Got It Life to help people transform negative internal dialogue in...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Tom Allen, CEO and Founder of Opango, a specialty learning management company that helps organizations develop and deliver effective online training programs. Tom shares how he combined his background in technology and passion for aviation to build a business focused on knowledge transfer, standardized instruction, and improved aviation safety. From help...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast,Terry Bitar, Founder and Managing Partner of BITARCHITECTS, an architecture, engineering, permitting, and construction firm based in Washington, D.C. Terry shares his journey from Lebanon to the United States and how he built a business by recognizing market opportunities and adapting to customer needs. What began as an architecture studio evolved into an...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Shaun Serelson, Partner at RTR Law, discuss how law firms can grow through strong client relationships, strategic branding, and a commitment to exceptional service. Shaun shares how RTR evolved from a small South Florida practice into a firm with offices across multiple states by building a recognizable brand around its core values of being Reliable, Tru...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Stuart Foster sits down with James Black, Partner and General Counsel at Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP to discuss how small and midsize businesses can protect themselves from legal, regulatory, and cybersecurity risks. Drawing on more than 40 years of experience in ethics and compliance, James explains why export compliance goes beyond knowing your...

In this episode of The Think Small Podcast, Stephanie Kent, President and CEO of Carbon Medical Technologies, shares how she is leading a lean 25-person medical device company through growth, commercialization, and transformation in a highly competitive industry. She discusses Carbon Medical’s unique pyrolytic carbon technology, the challenge of competing with much larger medical device companies,...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Bryant Wallace of WallScott Solutions, a cybersecurity and compliance company, shares how his entrepreneurial journey began at just nine years old, how sports psychology shaped his approach to business, and how lessons from athletics, problem-solving, and perseverance helped him build and sustain his IT business for more than two decades. Bryant also dis...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Tim Vogel, CEO and co-founder of ScentHound, a dog wellness franchise focused on routine hygiene and wellness care. Tim shares how he evolved from mobile pet grooming to developing a new business category that helps dog parents care for their pets’ skin, coats, ears, nails, and teeth. Tim also discusses the challenges of scaling through franchising, the...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Brian Calhoun and Blake Brownshadel of Calhoun Bhella LLP , a full-service law firm serving business owners and entrepreneurs through litigation and transactional matters, discussed their journeys from major law firms to building a practice focused on providing personalized, responsive, and flexible legal support for growing and mid-market businesses. Br...

In this episode of The Think Small Podcast, Kyle Dusi, founder of Cool Cat Cleaning, shares how he went from more than 20 years in phone sales to building a successful residential and commercial cleaning business across California and Washington. He explains how starting the business part-time allowed him to make the transition gradually, and how sales experience, technology, and strong business s...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Adam Duininck, President and CEO of the Minneapolis Downtown Council and Downtown Improvement District, discuss the realities of leading one of the country's most visible urban revitalization efforts. Adam shares how his team is tackling public safety, economic development, workforce challenges, and community engagement while creating a long-term vision...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Marissa Bankert, President & CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors Eastern Pennsylvania, shares how ABC Eastern PA helps contractors navigate workforce shortages, leadership development, apprenticeship programs, safety initiatives, and sustainable business growth. Marissa discusses the challenges of managing rapid industry expansion, why coachin...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Denise Steinbring sits down with Gene Bohensky , CEO of Archers Contact Solutions and TAB Advisor, and Cheryl Marks-Young , Certified Business Coach, Managing Director of eWomen Network New Jersey, and former Vistage Chair, to explore why no business owner should scale alone. Drawing from decades of experience leading peer advisory groups, they discuss h...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Ken Monroe, CEO of BCHEX, shares how his journey from witnessing a $100 million fraud led him to build a workforce safety company that leverages technology, AI, and smarter background screening to help organizations make better hiring decisions. From preventing costly hiring mistakes to creating a culture of safety and trust, Ken explains why workforce p...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Mat Zucker, Chief Marketing Officer at Prophet, shares how the world's most successful brands create lasting competitive advantages by aligning strategy, customer experience, and organizational culture. Drawing on decades of experience helping global companies unlock what Profit calls "uncommon growth," Mat explains why branding is far more than logos or...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Inaas Arabi, President and CEO of Block & Associates Realty, shares how an unexpected career pivot from software development to real estate launched a decades-long journey of building, scaling, acquiring, and selling businesses through one consistent principle: relentless innovation. After creating a multimillion-dollar software platform early in his...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Adam Tartt, President and CEO of CAP3, shares why even the most passionate entrepreneurs often struggle—not because they lack vision, but because they lack the financial and operational systems needed to scale. Drawing on decades of experience in finance and business leadership, Adam explains how CAP3 helps organizations nationwide by providing outsource...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Ben Bertram, co-owner of Fiberglass Solutions, shares how he and his wife Amy transformed a small, two-person fiberglass shop into a rapidly growing manufacturing business by focusing on people, leadership, and continuous improvement. After leaving a successful corporate career, Ben chose an unconventional entrepreneurial path—not by launching a startup,...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Gene Holtzman, Founder and CEO of Mitchell Martin, shares the remarkable journey from working in social services to building one of the nation's largest privately held staffing firms. After beginning his career helping unemployed individuals through government-funded workforce programs, Gene found himself at a crossroads when federal funding disappeared...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Damien Weinstein, co-founder of Weinstein + Klein, shares how a conversation between two college friends evolved into one of New Jersey's fastest-growing boutique law firms serving entrepreneurs and small businesses. What began in 2019 as a two-person practice has grown into a 25-person firm by intentionally focusing on the legal challenges that matter m...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Greg Cathcart, Senior Vice President at NNIT, Inc. and CEO of Excellis Health Solutions, shares how decades of experience in healthcare technology, consulting, and international business have shaped his approach to building organizations that can adapt to constant change. Greg discusses the evolution of Excellis Health Solutions, its integration into NNI...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Anamaria Roxana Simion, Senior Director at Eli Lilly and Company, shares how global healthcare organizations can create meaningful innovation by putting patients, partnerships, and long-term thinking at the center of business strategy. Drawing from her leadership experience across international pharmaceutical markets, Anamaria discusses the importance of...

In this episode of the Think Small Podcast, Chris Becker, CEO of Bionix, shares the remarkable journey of rising from an intern to leading a 42-year-old medical device company through one of its most transformative chapters. Built on a culture of clinician-driven innovation, Bionix has spent decades developing practical solutions for pediatricians, primary care providers, and other frontline healt...