T.U.T — The Unwritten Teachings

Cortney Mauldin is a seasoned FHA loan originator based out of St. Louis with a remarkable track record in commercial real estate finance. Over the past five years, he has originated $375 million in HUD-backed loans and has overseen more than $4 billion in loan volume throughout his career. Beginning his journey in 2003 as an entry-level FHA underwriter, Cortney rose through the ranks thanks to hi...

In this episode, we interview Jake Klamen, founder of Klamen Commercial Advisors and co-owner of My Ten Management. With deep family roots in St. Louis real estate, Jake has successfully completed over 48 commercial transactions valued at over $125 million since founding his brokerage in 2021. Beyond brokerage, Jake plays a key role in managing a large residential and commercial portfolio through...

Yonason Goldson, a globally recognized thought leader on ethics, leadership, and culture, joins Raj to share insights from his remarkable journey. Yonason is a TEDx speaker, former hitchhiker, world traveler, and author of seven books, regularly contributing to Fast Company and having been featured in Forbes, Newsweek, and the Washington Post. His distinctive blend of ancient wisdom and modern bus...

Discover the power of storytelling in creating legendary brands with Gair Maxwell, author of "Big Little Legends" and renowned international speaker. In this insightful conversation, Gair reveals how businesses and entrepreneurs can stand out by tapping into their authentic stories and building unique brand identities that resonate across industries and cultures. From the surprising hist...

Michael Staenberg is a visionary real estate developer and philanthropist who has developed over 200 retail centers totaling more than 45 million square feet. With a career spanning nearly five decades, Michael has worked with some of the biggest names in retail, including Walmart, McDonald’s, and Home Depot. Beyond his business success, he is known for his philanthropic efforts, having donated ov...

Jim Stewart, founder and CEO of Stewart Properties, brings over 40 years of experience in commercial real estate, particularly in multifamily investments. He is also a founding shareholder of Enterprise Bank, the largest bank headquartered in St. Louis. Jim’s career journey is one of resilience and strategic decision-making, from starting out as a young entrepreneur selling candy bars and performi...

Ben Strake is an award-winning M&A advisor, serial entrepreneur, and founder of Premier Business Brokers and Kodiak Business Valuations. With a background in hospitality and experience in business brokerage, Ben has built a career helping business owners maximize their exits and guiding entrepreneurs in acquiring companies. He was named one of Forbes' Next 1000 in 2021 and has played a key...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jonathan Jones, a true expert in business operations, leadership, and culture. Jonathan’s impressive background includes serving as an executive coach and peer group facilitator with Vistage, the world’s largest CEO peer group, where he’s earned the prestigious Master Chair designation six years in a row. With over 25 years as a Dale Carnegi...

In this episode, Raj Tut hosts Jeff Colona and Darrell Scott, two key leaders from the St. Louis Economic Development Partnership (STL Partnership). Jeff serves as the director of the Heartland Regional Investment Fund and has a wealth of experience in residential and commercial real estate, having overseen over $200 million in sales during his career. Darrell, the Vice President of Business Finan...

In this episode, Raj sits down with Brian Kelley, Founder of Revel CRE, a boutique commercial real estate brokerage operating in Missouri and Southern Illinois. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Brian has built a reputation as one of the most active brokers in the St. Louis market. A lifelong St. Louisan with deep ties to the community, Brian has honed his expertise by working acro...

In this episode, I sit down with Munsok So, President and CEO of So Hospitality Group. With over two decades in the hospitality industry, Munsok has transformed the Saint Louis dining scene through his leadership of well-known brands like Drunken Fish and Kimchi Guys. His journey from running a nightclub to building a multi-brand hospitality group showcases a deep passion for food and community-dr...

In this episode, I sit down with Tyler Kelley, co-founder of Slam! Agency, a marketing agency based out of Saint Louis, and a passionate entrepreneur who's dedicated to giving back through coaching and mentoring. Tyler grew up in a working-class area of North County, Saint Louis, and while his path initially seemed headed toward trades or the military, a spontaneous decision to apply for college s...

In this episode, I had the pleasure of sitting down with John Krewson, the founder and CEO of Sketch Development, a company he started in 2015 that has rapidly grown to $10 million in revenue and earned a spot on the Inc 5000 list for two consecutive years. John shared his incredible journey of building a software development and coaching company that serves large organizations. He explained how S...

Welcome to "Country Club Conversations." In this episode, we bring you Justine Froekler, a distinguished author, speaker, and licensed professional counselor renowned for her expertise in mental health, resilience, and leadership. With a career spanning over 25 years, Justine has captivated audiences with her innovative approaches to personal and professional development. She is certifie...

In this episode of Country Club Conversations , Raj sits down with Garen Lafser, President at Salient Realty Group and CityRise Development. With extensive experience in both commercial real estate and development, Garen has been a pivotal figure in shaping the St. Louis real estate landscape. His dual roles provide him with a unique perspective on market trends and redevelopment opportunities, ma...

In this episode of Country Club Conversations , we’re joined by Krishna Kurnala, a remarkable entrepreneur. Founder of Stellar IT Group. Krishna's journey began in a small town in India, where he grew up in a lower middle-class family with limited resources. His ambition and resilience drove him to the U.S., where he faced numerous challenges, including navigating the complexities of immigrati...

Welcome to Country Club Conversations, where we delve into the world of real estate with industry leaders. In this episode, we're joined by Bob Walpert, founder and CEO of Walpert Properties and one of the most sought-after real estate minds in St. Louis. With over four decades of experience, Bob shares insights gained from his journey in real estate, from managing lower-grade properties to st...

Welcome back to another episode of Country Club Conversations. Today, we have a very special episode as Raj Tut takes the interviewee spot, allowing us to take a deep dive into his story. As we already know, Raj is the Founder of Storyboard Living. His company has been featured six times in the Inc. 5000 List of America’s Fastest Growing Companies and has won several other awards, including the St...

Welcome to another episode of Country Club Conversations. In this episode, we have the one and only Caiti Chaney, Founder of Jasper Paul PR & Marketing. Caiti has a rich background in Public Relations and the Hospitality industry. Considered one of the most influential businesswomen in St. Louis, she brings a wealth of knowledge on marketing and brand storytelling to the table. In this episode...

On today’s episode we have the pleasure of sitting down with Verne Harnish, a name synonymous with entrepreneurial success and business growth. As founder and CEO of Scaling Up, a global executive education and coaching company, and authoring bestsellers like "Mastering the Rockefeller Habits" and "Scaling Up," Verne shares invaluable insights vital for any business leader toda...

On this episode of Country Club Conversations, Raj sits down with Michael Heath, President of Pool King Enterprises, Florida Pool and Spa and State Line Products of Missouri to discuss his journey to successful entrepreneurship from a background in accounting, insurance and sales.   Michael spares no detail in recounting his evolution and growth from a blue-collar family to teaching English in Col...

On this episode of Country Club Conversations, we journey with Adam Orf, the president and owner of Didion Orf Recycling, as he details his ascent from a hardworking youth in his family's foundry to the trailblazing leader of a flourishing recycling business.  Adam's insights offer a window into the complexities of steering a family-operated company through the unpredictable currents of in...

In this episode, Melissa Helton, President and General Manager of FanDuel Sportsbook and Horse Racing, sits down with our host, Raj Tut, to share her extensive experience in the gaming and betting industry. With a successful career spanning nearly 25 years, the once-former accountant with adept knowledge in strategic planning in the gaming industry discusses the challenges of expanding the Fairmou...

In this episode of "Country Club Conversations," Raj interviews Chuck Reaves, a seasoned sales expert with over 40 years of experience and a decorated Vietnam veteran.  Chuck shares his journey from AT&T, where he was once crowned top salesperson and led a 1,100-person sales team with no formal tertiary education, to becoming a renowned speaker and one of few at the National Speakers...

Today, we sit down with Dominic Martinez, the proficient Managing Director at Northmarq (St. Louis). With an initial career in accountancy, Dominic pivoted to the riveting world of real estate and, along with his partners, established a budding portfolio since joining the company in 2021 by selling over $1.5 billion worth of multifamily real estate, closing over 61 transactions for over 12,000 uni...